Andrzej Poczobut returns to Poland after visit to Belarus

Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist and activist for the Union of Poles in Belarus, has returned to Poland following a brief visit to Belarus. Poczobut, who was released in April 2026 after serving five years in a Belarusian penal colony, traveled to his hometown of Grodno and other regions including Minsk, Volkovysk, and Kobryn.

During his trip, Poczobut met with family members and representatives of the Polish minority. Angelika Borys, head of the Union of Poles in Belarus, reported that the visit proceeded peacefully and that Poczobut was welcomed warmly as a hero by the local community. He visited various memorial sites, including Polish soldiers' graves in Sopockiny.

Poczobut’s journey was considered high-risk due to his previous imprisonment by Belarusian authorities, who had sentenced him to eight years in a penal colony in 2021. Despite appeals from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski for him to remain in Poland for his safety, Poczobut chose to visit the Polish community in Belarus to provide support and maintain connections.