Full Breakdown
Andrzej Poczobut Returns to Belarus After Prisoner Exchange
9/9/2026, 5:40:09 AM
Core Event: Return to Belarus
On September 8, former political prisoner and journalist Andrzej Poczobut crossed the Polish-Belarusian border and entered his hometown of Grodno (Hrodna). The trip, organized through the Union of Poles in Belarus, is expected to last about a week and includes meetings with family and fellow activists.
Background & Context
Poczobut, a member of Belarus’s Polish minority, was detained in March 2021 and, in February 2023, sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of inciting ethnic hatred and endangering national security. Poland and Belarus negotiated a “5-for-5” prisoner exchange in April 2026, after which Poczobut received a Belarusian passport and assurances that he could return. He was subsequently awarded the European Parliament’s 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for his advocacy of free expression in Belarus.
Timeline
- March 2021 – Arrest of Andrzej Poczobut.
- February 2023 – Sentencing to eight years in prison.
- April 2026 – Release in a prisoner exchange; transfer to Poland.
- September 8 – Return to Belarus, crossing the border into Grodno.
- September 13 (scheduled) – Planned Union of Poles in Belarus congress (postponed).
Official Statements & Responses
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya told Reuters that Poczobut’s return does not signal any easing of repression, noting that arrests, criminal cases, searches and intimidation continue across the country. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk highlighted Warsaw’s diplomatic effort to secure the exchange and welcomed Poczobut’s release. The Union of Poles in Belarus reiterated that its activities remain unrecognised by Belarusian authorities and are subject to criminal provisions carrying three-to-eight-year sentences.
Criticism & Opposition
Human-rights laureate Ales Bialiatski warned that Poczobut’s move should not be taken as evidence of a thaw in Belarusian repression. He urged other political refugees to avoid repeating Poczobut’s action, citing the risk of detention in penal colonies and recalling historic Stalin-era labor camps.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I found myself in a situation anyone would fear. I'm scared too. But in life, you shouldn't let fear guide you.” — Andrzej Poczobut, inbox rights activist
- “Arrests, criminal cases, searches and intimidation continue across the country,” — Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
- “I do not advise other political refugees to repeat what Andrzej did, so that they do not later, while sitting in a penal colony, reproach themselves for being too trusting,” — Rights Center Ales Bialiatski
- “We are not officially recognised by the Belarusian authorities, and our activities are subject to a criminal provision carrying a sentence of three to eight years for activities related to an unregistered organisation. Therefore, we continue this work and are postponing the meeting for six months for security reasons,” — Anzhalika Borys, chairwoman of the Union of Poles in Belarus
- “If the Polish side informs us that there is any official information from the Belarusian authorities that we can count on the legalisation of our activities, then I will make such a decision,” — Anzhalika Borys, chairwoman of the Union of Poles in Belarus
What’s Next
The Union of Poles in Belarus plans to hold its congress on September 13, pending security clearance from Belarusian authorities. Organisers have indicated that any decision to legalise the union’s activities will depend on official information provided by the Polish side.
