On April 28, Poland and Belarus executed a prisoner exchange involving five individuals from each side. This development was reported by RMF24 and Polsat News.
John Cole, the U.S. Special Representative for Belarus under President Donald Trump, indicated that the American team played a role in facilitating the release of three Polish nationals and two Moldovans. He expressed gratitude towards Poland, Moldova, and Romania for their invaluable support in these efforts, highlighting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s willingness to engage constructively with the United States.
“We thank Poland, Moldova, and Romania for their invaluable support in these efforts, as well as President Lukashenko’s readiness for constructive engagement with the United States,” Cole stated.
Among those released from Belarusian custody was journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who had spent five years imprisoned for his criticisms of President Lukashenko. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed Poczobut’s release on social media, stating, “Andrzej Poczobut is free! Welcome home, friend.”
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski characterized the exchange as a negotiation between Russia and Belarus on one side and Poland and Belarus on the other. The Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that the exchange marked the culmination of a complex and prolonged negotiation process between Belarus’s KGB and Poland’s Intelligence Agency, which began in September 2025 and was conducted under direct instructions from President Lukashenko.
The situation continues to evolve as further details emerge regarding the implications of this exchange for regional relations.
The recent prisoner exchange between Poland and Belarus reflects ongoing diplomatic negotiations and highlights the involvement of U.S. officials. The release of journalist Andrzej Poczobut, among others, underscores the complexities of international relations in the region.