UPDATE 1-Belarus releases Polish-Belarusian journalist as part of prisoner exchange

Belarus has ‌released Polish-Belarusian journalist ​Andrzej Poczobut, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday, as ‌the two countries conducted a prisoner exchange at their border.

"Andrzej Poczobut is free! Welcome to your Polish ‌home, my friend," Tusk wrote on social media platform ‌X, posting a picture of himself with the journalist of Polish origin. Belarus and Poland were carrying out a five-for-five prisoner ⁠exchange ​at their ⁠shared border, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported earlier on Tuesday.

Poczobut ⁠was arrested in March 2021 and sentenced to eight years ​in prison in 2023 on charges of ⁠inciting ethnic hostility and undermining Belarusian security. Poland says the charges against ⁠him ​are unjust and politically motivated.

Poland has been an important refuge for opponents of authoritarian Belarusian President ⁠Alexander Lukashenko. Poland has also become one of the staunchest ⁠supporters ⁠of Ukraine since Russia, Minsk's main ally, launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in ‌2022.

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