Poczobut's release was commented on in Onet by Małgorzata Niezabitowska, former spokeswoman in the government of Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Anton Saifullayeu, assistant professor at the University of Warsaw, Kamil Kłysiński from the Center for Eastern Studies and Paweł Łatuszka, Belarusian oppositionist, former ambassador to Poland.
The first to speak was Kamil Kłysiński from the Center for Eastern Studies. — It's a process. A process, as emphasized in the announcements, that has been going on for several months. Negotiations at the service level, in a very secret, very non-public manner. Hence, most of us, the vast majority including me, are personally surprised by Andrzej's dismissal. This is a process that must be placed firmly in the context of the U.S.-Belarus dialogue. I think that without this context, and more broadly also the context of Washington-Moscow relations, this exchange would be impossible. Minsk and Alexander Lukashenko personally treated Andrzej Poczobut as hostage number 1 in relations with Poland and in the game towards Poland. Poland is still one of the main enemies of the Belarusian regime and today's positive decision by Minsk does not change that. However, this was about a tactical move to reduce, at least partially, the tension on the Minsk-Marshava line, i.e. between Belarus and one of the key allies of the United States, in the context of the American-Belarusian dialogue. Because this – as I understand it – was expected by the United States, and Lukashenko has gained so many benefits in the dialogue with the US in recent months that, to put it colloquially, he would regret losing it, he explained.
Andrzej Poczobut free. “For the regime it was strange”
Anton Saifullayeu did not hide his surprise at Poczobut's release. — It was supposed to happen someday. The fact that this happened today is, of course, a great surprise, a positive and great surprise. The fact that Andrzej Poczobut was still free in 2020 was – let's put it in quotes – strange for the regime. He was detained because he was supposed to be detained. He was kept in prison as a bargaining chip in the context of his negotiating position with Poland. It is worth emphasizing that the Polish position was quite tough, to such an extent that it was impossible to use Andrzej Poczobut as a bargaining chip in matters such as lifting sanctions, lifting some restrictions on the border, opening border crossings – emphasized Dr. Anton Saifullayeu.
Małgorzata Niezabitowska said that Poczobut can be compared to heroes known from literature. — We've been talking about Andrzej all day today. This is a Sienkiewicz-esque figure. Like from Sienkiewicz's novel. And so I think that he really is a modern-day Skrzetuski. No Kmicic, because he was not a troublemaker who converted, but he was the one who had the right attitude all the time. This is his steadfastness, such borderland stubbornness, but in the best sense of the word, honor, full recognition – it emphasized Andrzej Poczobut's heroic attitude.
Paweł Łatuszka was also happy about Poczobut's release. — These are truly wonderful moments when people leave prisons where torture is a daily occurrence. And Andrzej Poczobut is free. We have been striving for this all along, but we should remember that he spent over five years in terrible conditions. There are still at least 850 political prisoners in prisons in Belarus. Lukashenko imprisons more people every day. Currently it looks more like a carousel. Andrzej Poczobut is a hero not only for Poles. He is a hero for all of us, for Belarusians fighting for democracy. And this is such a wonderful figure who has already entered Polish-Belarusian history, said Latushka.
