MINSK, Belarus — April 28, 2026 Belarus frees journalist Andrzej Poczobut after five years Belarus has released journalist Andrzej Poczobut, a member of the country’s Polish minority, after five years in detention following a politically charged trial.
Background of the Case
Andrzej Poczobut, a 53-year-old journalist, was arrested in spring 2021 and remained in custody until his release this week. His case drew international attention due to its perceived political motivations. In July 2023, he was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony, a verdict widely condemned by human rights organizations and foreign governments.
Poczobut, a prominent figure in Belarus’s Polish minority, had been critical of the government’s policies, particularly its crackdown on dissent following the 2020 protests. His reporting often highlighted issues faced by minority communities, making him a target of state authorities.
Political Motivations and International Pressure
The trial against Poczobut was widely seen as politically motivated, part of a broader campaign by Belarusian authorities to silence independent voices. His sentencing in 2023 came amid a wave of repression against journalists, activists, and opposition figures.
International actors, including Poland and the European Union, repeatedly called for his release. Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister, had described Poczobut’s detention as "unjust and politically driven." The journalist’s case became a symbol of Belarus’s deteriorating human rights record under President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.