Tusk announced the release of three people as part of an exchange with Belarus

Lukashenko’s regime has released and handed over to Poland journalist Andrzej Poczobut, Catholic priest Grzegorz Havel, and a Belarusian man who had been cooperating with Polish intelligence services. 

This was announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a briefing in Warsaw, according to Ukrinform. The head of government noted that, at the request of the released Belarusian citizen, his surname is not being officially disclosed.

The exchange was made possible by the detention in Poland of individuals of importance to Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Warsaw put together a group of five people for the exchange, which also included individuals detained for actions against Moldova and Romania. Donald Tusk emphasized that the success of the operation depended on negotiations with Chisinau and Bucharest, as well as on the mediating role of the United States.

Pochobut’s release came after numerous previous attempts by Poland to persuade Minsk to carry out the exchange, one of which fell through at the last minute in the past. The Prime Minister highlighted the key role of the Polish intelligence services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in carrying out this complex operation. The released individuals are now safe, which is a significant achievement for Polish diplomacy amid the ongoing confrontation with the Lukashenko regime and Russian aggression in the region.

On April 28, Poland and Belarus carried out a “five-for-five” prisoner exchange.

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.