The Release of Andrzej Poczobut Is a Victory for Freedom of Speech and a Reminder of Those Who Remain Behind Bars

The Release of Andrzej Poczobut Is a Victory for Freedom of Speech and a Reminder of Those Who Remain Behind Bars The Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanç” / Turkmenistan welcomes the release of Belarusian journalist, human rights advocate, and political prisoner Andrzej Poczobut and expresses its sincere solidarity with his family, colleagues, and all those who fought for his freedom over the years. The release of Andrzej Poczobut is not merely the liberation of one individual. It is a symbolic victory for freedom of speech, human dignity, and international solidarity. Andrzej Poczobut is a well-known Belarusian journalist of Polish origin, public figure, and activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus. For many years, he openly criticized the authoritarian policies of the regime of Alexander Lukashenko and advocated for civil liberties, the rights of national minorities, and independent journalism. It was precisely because of his principled position that he was repeatedly persecuted by the Belarusian authorities. Since June 2021, Andrzej Poczobut had been imprisoned. In 2023, a Belarusian court sentenced him to eight years in a high-security penal colony on politically motivated charges. Despite pressure, he refused to seek a pardon, thereby refusing to admit guilt for his journalistic and civic activities. In October 2025, the European Parliament awarded Andrzej Poczobut the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, underscoring international recognition of his courage and principled stance. His name has become a symbol of resilience and dignity for thousands of people fighting against political repression and authoritarianism. Human Freedom Must Never Become a Subject of Political Bargaining According to publicly available information, Andrzej Poczobut was released as part of a prisoner exchange between Belarus and Poland under a “five-for-five” arrangement with international mediation. We are sincerely pleased by his release. At the same time, we consider it necessary to emphasize: Freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and human dignity must never become subjects of political bargaining between states. Political prisoners must not be used as instruments in diplomatic negotiations. No one should spend years suffering in prison for telling the truth, only to later become part of a political transaction. Nevertheless, we express our appreciation to the Government of the United States and all international partners who contributed to securing the release of political prisoners and used their influence to defend fundamental human rights. Turkmenistan: Political Prisoners the World Must Not Ignore While the international community welcomes the release of political prisoners in Belarus, we urge the world not to forget Turkmenistan — one of the most closed and repressive countries in the world, where political prisoners continue to be held in complete isolation and informational darkness. In Turkmenistan: Dozens of individuals remain imprisoned on politically motivated charges; Many are held in total isolation from the outside world; Families receive no information about their health for years; Independent observers and international monitoring mechanisms are denied access to places of detention; In numerous cases, the fate of detainees remains unknown for many years. What is occurring amounts to a systemic practice of enforced disappearances in detention, raising grave concern among international human rights organizations. Our Appeal to the International Community The Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanç” / Turkmenistan calls upon: The Government of the United States The European Union The United Nations The OSCE International human rights organizations Democratic governments worldwide to intensify pressure on the authorities of Turkmenistan and demand: 1. The immediate release of all political prisoners; 2. Full and credible information regarding their whereabouts and health conditions; 3. Access for international observers to places of detention; 4. An end to the practices of torture, isolation, and enforced disappearances; 5. Compliance with Turkmenistan’s international human rights obligations. Freedom for One Is Hope for All The story of Andrzej Poczobut demonstrates that: Even the most repressive regimes are forced to yield when international pressure becomes systematic and sustained. The release of every political prisoner should not mark the end of the struggle, but serve as a reminder of those who remain behind bars. Today, we celebrate the freedom of Andrzej Poczobut. But at the same time, we declare: Political prisoners in Turkmenistan also deserve freedom. Their families deserve the truth. Their fate deserves international attention. Freedom must never be a reward for silence. Human rights must never be subject to bargaining. No one should disappear in prison for their beliefs. Human Rights Platform of the Civil Movement “Dayanç” / Turkmenistan 🌐 https://www.dayanchcivil.com/⁠� Sources: Deutsche Welle (DW) — “Belarusian Authorities Release Andrzej Poczobut” https://www.dw.com/ru/vlasti-belarusi-osvobodili-andzea-pocobuta/a-72378511⁠� NEXTA — Coverage of the prisoner exchange and release of Andrzej Poczobut https://nexta.tv/⁠�