By Ginika Igboke
Donald Trump announced on May 10 that three Polish nationals and two Moldovan citizens had been released from detention in Belarus and Russia with assistance from the U.S. government.
Among those freed was Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who had been imprisoned in Belarus since his arrest in March 2021.
Poczobut was sentenced in 2023 to eight years in prison on charges related to inciting hatred and promoting actions allegedly harmful to Belarus, according to human rights organization Article 19.
Polish officials have long argued that the charges against him were politically motivated and repeatedly called for his release.
Trump Credits Diplomatic Efforts
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Karol Nawrocki personally asked him during talks last September to help secure Poczobut’s release.
“Today, Poczobut is free due to our efforts. The United States delivers for our Allies, and Friends,” Trump wrote.
The president also praised special envoy John Coale for helping coordinate the negotiations that led to the prisoners’ release.
Trump additionally thanked Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko for what he described as “his cooperation and friendship.”
Poland Describes Complex Diplomatic Negotiations
Donald Tusk confirmed on April 28 that Poczobut had been released during a prisoner exchange conducted at the Polish-Belarusian border.
Tusk described the negotiations as a difficult diplomatic process lasting nearly two years.
“The exchange at the Polish-Belarusian border is the finale of a two-year-long intricate diplomatic game, full of dramatic twists,” Tusk wrote in a post on X.
He credited the success to the efforts of Polish intelligence services, diplomats, prosecutors, and support from the United States, Romania, and Moldova.
US Envoy and Moldova Praise International Cooperation
John Coale stated on April 28 that his team worked closely with the U.S. Department of State and international partners to secure the release of the detainees.
He thanked Poland, Moldova, and Romania for assisting in the negotiations and also praised Lukashenko for his willingness “to pursue constructive engagement with the United States.”
Maia Sandu also expressed gratitude to the United States and European partners after the release of two Moldovan citizens from what she described as “Russian captivity.”
“This would not have been possible without @realDonaldTrump and the U.S. administration, and our partners in Poland and Romania. We are deeply grateful. They’re coming home!” Sandu wrote on X.
Belarus Releases Hundreds of Political Prisoners
In late March, Trump said Belarus had released more than 500 political prisoners since May 2025, including 250 prisoners freed in March alone, according to a White House statement.
Coale said one earlier prisoner release operation at the Lithuanian–Belarus border represented “a significant humanitarian milestone” and reflected Trump’s approach of “direct, hard-nosed diplomacy.”
Following those developments, the U.S. Department of the Treasury lifted sanctions on March 26 against several Belarusian entities, including the Belarusian Bank of Development, Belinvestbank, and the country’s Ministry of Finance.
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