The President of Poland awarded the released journalist Pochobut the Order of the White Eagle
In Warsaw, during the celebrations marking Constitution Day, Polish President Karol Nawrocki presented journalist and former political prisoner Andrzej Poczobut with the country’s highest state award—the Order of the White Eagle. The president described the recipient as a symbol of resilience and dedication to the fight for human rights against totalitarian regimes.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported this, citing a statement from the presidential office.
The decision to award the honor was made back in November 2025, while Pochobut was in a Belarusian prison. The journalist was released and deported to Poland only on April 28, 2026, after a long imprisonment on charges of alleged hostile activity. Andrzej Poczobut worked for a long time as a correspondent for Gazeta Wyborcza and was an active representative of the Polish community in Belarus.
The Order of the White Eagle is awarded for outstanding service to the state to the most distinguished citizens and foreign leaders. The President of Poland emphasized that the journalist’s work serves as a model for the defense of democratic values in difficult circumstances. The activist’s release may contribute to a change in relations between Warsaw and Minsk in the future. Despite the Belarusian regime’s aggressive policies and its support for Russia’s actions, Poland continues to support its compatriots abroad. The award ceremony was a landmark event for Polish society on this festive day.
On April 28, Poland and Belarus carried out a prisoner exchange, including Pochobut, on a “five-for-five” basis.
Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, who was detained in Warsaw at Ukraine’s request, was released as part of the exchange. Butyagin is known for his participation in illegal archaeological excavations in occupied Crimea and subsequent trips to European countries.
