Andrzej Duda: We are closer to Poczobut's release, and not by half a step

The President of Poland says that the Polish side has come closer to the release of political prisoner journalist Andrzej Poczobut from the Belarusian prison. “We are acting very actively, and I see symptoms of change on the other side. We are much closer,” Andrzej Duda stated.

In an interview with Kanał Zero, quoted by wPolityce, Duda spoke about the prisoner exchange that took place between Russia and Western countries. According to him, Poland was not involved in the negotiations:

“These negotiations were led by the Americans. It was the Americans who spoke to Russia. They were the ones who led these negotiations, from the very beginning.

This slight thaw in terms of the release of prisoners also came after my return from China. We have been pushing for Andrzej Poczobut's release in various ways, not since yesterday. By various means. We are not forgetting about this case, we are striving for it.”

Duda also said Warsaw could have tried to block the exchange because Polish authorities learned about it at the last moment. However, “a difficult decision was made” and the exchange took place.

According to the Polish leader, a few years ago Poczobut did not really agree “to some solutions” that Polish authorities proposed for his release. “I don't know if he would have wanted to be exchanged for spies, without the possibility to return to Belarus, to be with his family. Without the possibility to be a normal citizen,” Duda added.

In February 2023, journalist Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to 8 years in prison. The trial was held in closed session.