Leader of Union of Poles released from house arrest – media reports

April 4, BPN. Authorities have released Anžalika Borys (Andżelika Borys), the leader of the unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus, from house arrest, Belsat reports.

She had spent one year under house arrest after a year in custody.

The criminal case against her was reportedly terminated “due to the lack of evidence.”

On February 8, reporter Andrzej Poczobut (Andrej Pačobut), another defendant in the Poles’ case, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Authorities convicted him on charges of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions that harmed the national security of Belarus.

In response to the verdict, Poland closed Bobrowniki, one of the two road checkpoints available for travelers. On March 31, Alaksandr Łukašenka said he was not ready to free Poczobut in exchange for the opening of the Bobrowniki border crossing.

“We are not planning to give Borys to anyone,” he added, “If she wants to be in Poland, let her go to Poland… No one restricts her movement. But she is certainly determined to live in Belarus. She is a Pole, but she is my Pole,” Łukašenka said.