Protect Andrei Poczobut (a journalist) against prosecution by the Belarusian dictatorship

It's not the court but it is a reporter.
Journalistic integrity demands full disclosure of relevant facts before editorializing. One of these relevant facts is what is alleged he did. - verbatim and according to the indictment.


There is no such action. It's a bullsh*it weasel term that can mean anything.
President can only be criticized, un-elected, impeached, or assassinated. These are action words, dear English teacher. "Down" is not.
So which one would you want me to shout in public over there?

@Novichok▲ 0▼ 0

No it doesn't.

@jon357▲ 0▼ 0

@jon357 youtube.com/watch?v=n-mq0uJ7rlM

@amiga500▲ 0▼ 0

youtube.com/watch?v=XGhnE53PVzk

Watching what's going on in Belarus is like watching history repeat itself. And that's never a good thing.

@jon357▲ 0▼ 0

Yes, it does. If I say that X is a homophobe, you have every right to ask, what did he say, because "X is a homophobe" is a conclusion, not the underlying fact. Go to law school before talking nonsense.

So I am asking what did he do?

@Novichok▲ 0▼ 0

From prisoners.spring96.org/en/person/andrei-paczobut

Andrzej Poczobut - journalist
Date of birth: 16 April 1973
Date of detention: 25 March 2021
Charges indicted:
Art. 130 of the Criminal Code - Incitement to hatred
Prison: Pre-trial detention center No. 8

Now, where did I read that "incitement to hatred"? Hmm... Oh, yeah, it was about a German law in a democratic Germany - God's model of what a country should be.

Still not what he said, though...but I will find out if it takes a trip to the "Belarusian dictatorship".

In another case...

Anzhalika Borys was arrested this week. The next day, she was charged with violation of the order of holding mass events and sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest.

I guess the "Belarusian dictatorship" figured out that they can commit such heinous acts after the Brits and the kangaroo Gestapo arrested their subject for "holding mass events" to protest lockdowns. And without a permit!!! Yes, I know, that was different.

@Novichok▲ 0▼ 0

Poczobut, the Polish minority activist and journalist, was just sentenced to 8 years in prison by Lukashenka regime. .
tvpworld.com/66115996/poczobut-sentenced-to-eight-years-in-prison

The Belarusian court accused the Polish minority activist of illegally organizing Polish minority events, collecting information on behalf of international organizations, calling for sanctions against Belarus, and glorifying the Polish wartime Home Army.

The Polish gov has no means to effectively press on Belarus regime to free him.

@pawian▲ 0▼ 0

Jesus... 8 years in a Belarusian maximum-security prison... for a journalist...🤐 🤬

One Belarusian journalist with Polish roots who was also getting punished by Lukashenko's regime was taking part in our Polish-Russian internet discussions and I remember him writing about Poczobut - he was in and out of prison even at that time... Poor man... and brave. In his place I would leave Belarus long ago. It doesn't look like there's a future for people with Polish roots there... I'm afraid that as long as Putin is in power in RuSSia, Lukashenko will be in power in Belarus... All those good people are fighting a losing battle, imho... :(


It would be nice if the EU didn't at least help the Belarusian regime to make money :(:

wiadomosci.wp.pl/andrzej-poczobut-skazany-latuszka-dostal-wyrok-za-bycie-polakiem-6864339668134720a

@Paulina▲ 0▼ 0

Yes, he refused to plead for mercy to Lukashenka.


He refused to do it as a brave and patriotic man. Similarly, most Solidarity anticommunist activists prefered to stay in communist Poland and continue their fight against the regime, even though they are persecuted.

@pawian▲ 0▼ 0

@pawian, I guess you're right... I must admit it's hard for me to understand how one can be patriotic about that strange, kolhoz-like country... But I didn't grew up there, so... And maybe he has a different Belarus in his heart... I do hope that he'll get his justice one day... 😢 ✊

@Paulina▲ 0▼ 0

We need to pray for him.


Like those Solidarity activists - they hoped for better tomorrow and didn`t give up. And were successful in the end. That is Polishness.

@pawian▲ 0▼ 0

Yes... I wish something more than praying could be done about this though.


I wouldn't say it's uniquely Polish... Navalny got 9 years...



@Paulina▲ 0▼ 0

But as it is out of our reach to free him, only prayers are left to help.


But he isn`t Polish, while Poczbut is.

@pawian▲ 0▼ 0

....isn't Polish, Poczobut is Polish.🙂

@Alien▲ 0▼ 0

Thanks, it is a good idea to correct each other`s typos. We are perfectionists! :):):)

@pawian▲ 0▼ 0

The Polish Parliament condemned sentencing Poczobut and minister Kamiński announced closure of Polish-Belarusian border crossing in Bobrowniki. There are also going to be further names added on the sanctions list of people persecuting Poles in Belarus:

wiadomosci.wp.pl/decyzja-ws-przejscia-granicznego-zawieszone-do-odwolania-6864635835665280a

Some backround in those articles:

france24.com/en/live-news/20230208-minsk-jails-polish-belarusian-reporter-for-eight-years

"Belarus witnessed a historic protest movement denouncing the controversial 2020 re-election of Lukashenko, who has been in power for nearly 30 years.

Backed by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko unleashed a massive crackdown, throwing critics in prison or forcing them into exile.

More than 30 Belarusian journalists are currently in jail in the post-Soviet country."

notesfrompoland.com/2023/02/08/belarus-sentences-polish-minority-leader-and-journalist-to-eight-years-in-prison/

"Poczobut was detained, along with three other Polish minority leaders, including Andżelika Borys, the head of the Union of Poles in Belarus (ZPB), in March 2021. Their arrests came as part of a wider clampdown on Belarus's large ethnic Polish community after Poland supported the Belarusian opposition in the aftermath of the disputed presidential elections."

themoscowtimes.com/2023/02/08/polish-belarusian-journalist-jailed-for-8-years-in-belarus-a80177

'"I do not have any illusions, I will take the sentence calmly and with a calm conscience go to prison," he said in a letter published by his newspaper ahead of the verdict.'

May the judge's name that sentenced him hang in the Hall of Shame:

Dmitry Bubenchik

While Poczobut's name will hang in the Hall of Glory:

@Paulina▲ 0▼ 0

The change of the system in Belarus one day might entail a crackdown on those regime stooges who harm people today. And it can be quite violent.

@pawian▲ 0▼ 0

Sure, there must be order, the famous German " Ordnung muss sein".

@Alien▲ 0▼ 0

Important anniversary. Let`s not forget about Andrzej Poczobut, the political prisoner in Belarus.

On March 25, 2021, Andrzej Poczobut, an activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus and a journalist cooperating with "Gazeta Wyborcza", was arrested in Grodno after a search of his apartment. Held in subsequent detention centers, he waited almost two years for a fabricated trial.

On January 16, 2023, the first trial against Poczobut took place. Less than a month later - on February 8 - the verdict was announced. Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony with a strict regime for allegedly "incitement to national and religious hatred" and the equally absurd charge of "rehabilitation of Nazism". The journalist was also included on a special list of people "involved in terrorist activities", which results in harsher treatment in prison.

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@pawian▲ 0▼ 0

Poczobut is out. Finally, a fuc*king headline that doesn't make me angry.

@Korvinus▲ 0▼ 0

@Korvinus, my sentiments exactly.

@Paulina▲ 0▼ 0

... and now he wants to go back to Belarus and is ready to go to prison again...

wydarzenia.interia.pl/kraj/news-andrzej-poczobut-po-wyjsciu-na-wolnosc-chce-sprobowac-wrocic,nId,23472170

...a Navalny type. :-/

@Torq▲ 0▼ 0

What for? It is pointless, times have changed and he already gained a laur of a political prisoner.
You fight to win not to get a prison cell.

I don't understand why he go a medal (order) from Poland.

@Ironside▲ 0▼ 0

If you say this - you are a small man, with small brains.

This man - is a big man. With big balls.

@Bobko▲ 0▼ 0

Maybe I'm. His balls do not interest me, he already done what five years. what his achievement? If not for the exchange of prisoners he would still be locked up.
If he likes there, why would he waste a place someone else could use to get out.? It wasn't for free.


Fine, maybe. That is not the point, What are his chances of becoming the next ruler of Belarus, tell me honestly.

@Ironside▲ 0▼ 0

They are much higher now.

Parasites like the Tikhanovskiy couple, that sit in Latvia and America - recording encouraging videos for freedom minded Belarusians are traitors and clowns.

These men that return back into their prison cells - they are the future.

Russians and Belarusians will not accept any tourists, or any traitors.

You cannot go to New York, sell your soul, and hope for the throne.

The throne is sacred, and the way to it is thorny and arduous.

@Bobko▲ 0▼ 0

Maybe if it was Belarus on it own but there is still Russia in the background.
I think, maybe there is something I don't know about, but he does, but on the other and realistically speaking his chances to survive the next ten years if he goes back are slim.
The way to flip Belarus is not by internal forces, there are not enough people who want to do it, or they have no balls to do it or some combination of the above.
A political police and structures in Belarus backed by Russia are strong enough to mange its dissidents.
To pay Lukashenko back for illegals pushed across borders we need to push some little green people to return the favor.

@Ironside▲ 0▼ 0

You don't have to convince me any further that he's a decent man.

@Korvinus▲ 0▼ 0

See, Ironside?

Even Korvinus - despite all his limitations - can understand this simple fact.

This is a BIG man. A man of some substantial heart.

It is not for us - forum rats - to discuss him.


Maybe stop trying then?

@Bobko▲ 0▼ 0

I doubt anybody was trying. Sure they made some noise but that as you know just a big nothing.
---

I'm not talking about that, or him.
He is a political figure if I understand it right. So, my questions are valid, what his chance to achieve his goals, what has he done already, what is his big plan.
Who and what back him up (except Providence), how many people in Belarus would like to have him for a leader.
those are valid questions.
You mislead us with your prise of tough big men because you know that in the current circumstances they can achieve nothing and that good for Russia and Putin.

@Ironside▲ 0▼ 0