The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

Belarus: journalist Andrzej Poczobut is sentenced to eight years for inciting hatred

BelarusRSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

A Belarusian court sentenced dual Belarusian-Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut to eight years in prison on charges of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions, and he was freed three years later as part of a multi-country prisoner exchange.1234

What happened

On February 8, 2023, a Belarusian court sentenced journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who holds both Belarusian and Polish citizenship, to eight years in prison on charges of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions said to be aimed at harming Belarus's national security. Poczobut, a political commentator and producer for the program Nad Niemnem on the independent broadcaster Belsat TV and on Polish public broadcaster TVP Polonia, had been imprisoned since March 2021. CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, Gulnoza Said, said the sentence illustrated a continuing pattern of Belarusian government action against independent journalists. Poczobut was freed on April 28, 2026, as part of a prisoner exchange involving Poland, Belarus, the United States, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, in which ten prisoners were swapped at the Polish-Belarusian border. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the release, calling it the result of a two-year diplomatic effort.1234

Poczobut was freed on April 28, 2026, after about five years in detention, as part of a multi-country prisoner exchange.34

What reason was given

Stated justification

Not stated in the sources reviewed as a specific factual basis beyond the charges of "inciting hatred" and "calling for sanctions aimed at harming national security."1234

What changed for reporting

A journalist covering Belarus for a Polish-speaking audience was imprisoned for about five years before his release depended on a multi-country diplomatic exchange rather than any legal appeal.1234

Timeline

2023

8 February 2023
Belarus: journalist Andrzej Poczobut is sentenced to eight years for inciting hatred

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Alexander LukashenkootherPresident of Belarus
Donald TuskotherPrime Minister of Poland

Outlets and journalists

NameKindRelation
Belsat TVoutletaffected
Andrzej Poczobutjournalist, Belsat TVaffected

Sources

  1. Belarusian authorities sentence journalist Andrzej Poczobut to 8 years in prison, detain journalist Anastasia SharkevichCommittee to Protect Journalists, 2023-02-08, reporting. Source record
  2. Belarus frees journalist Andrzej PoczobutCommittee to Protect Journalists, 2026-04-28, reporting. Source record
  3. Poland summons Belarusian envoy after journalist is jailedReuters, 2023-02-08, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. The court sentenced Poczobut to eight years in prison on charges of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions.Belarusian authorities' sentencing of journalist Andrzej Poczobut to eight years in prison illustrates the government's never-ending cycle of repression against independent journalists.Belarusian authorities sentence journalist Andrzej Poczobut to 8 years in prison, detain journalist Anastasia Sharkevich, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2023-02-08.Claim 612, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. Poczobut was a commentator and producer for a program on the independent broadcaster Belsat TV and on Polish public broadcaster TVP Polonia.political commentator and producer for Nad Niemnem, a TV program on Poland-based independent broadcaster Belsat TV and Polish public broadcaster TVP PoloniaBelarusian authorities sentence journalist Andrzej Poczobut to 8 years in prison, detain journalist Anastasia Sharkevich, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2023-02-08.Claim 613, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. Poczobut was freed as part of a prisoner exchange at the Polish-Belarusian border involving eight countries.Andrzej Poczobut is free! Welcome to your Polish home, my friendBelarus frees journalist Andrzej Poczobut, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2026-04-28.Claim 614, checked 2026-09-22.
  4. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the exchange as the result of a two-year diplomatic effort.the finale of a two-year-long intricate diplomatic game, full of dramatic twistsBelarus frees journalist Andrzej Poczobut, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2026-04-28.Claim 615, checked 2026-09-22.