Journalists demand release of colleague in Belarus

Andrzej Poczobut. Photo: PAP

Accused of defamation and slander directed towards President Aleksander Lukashenko, Poczobut may face a prison term of four years if found guilty.

In their letter, the Polish journalists write that all Andrzej Poczobut is ‘guilty’ of is his resolve to carry out his journalistic vocation and inform the public about the situation in Belarus.

Andrzej Poczobut was born and brought up in Belarus, although he did not want to leave his homeland, a country where his children were born.

Prior to his arrest, he wrote “I hope that my work brings closer a moment when Belarus will no longer be ruled by the last dictator in this part of the civilised world and will become a free European state.”

Polish journalists express their solidarity with Andrzej Poczobut and demand his immediate release from detention.

After Saturday’s talks in Warsaw with US President Barack Obama, both Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk spoke of a full convergence of views on the need to adopt a tough stand on human rights violations in Belarus. (mk/jb)