Supreme Court to hear jailed journalist Andrej Pačobut’s appeal on May 26

May 4, BPN. The Supreme Court will consider jailed reporter Andrej Pačobut’s appeal on May 26, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) said.

On February 8, the Hrodna Regional Court sentenced Pačobut (Poczobut), a Polish minority activist, to eight years in a medium-security penal colony after finding him guilty of inciting hatred and seeking to undermine national security. Human rights groups condemned the charges as politically motivated.

Pačobut refused to ask the Belarusian ruler for a pardon and leave the country. He has been in detention since March 2021. Poland demanded his release, closing a major border crossing with Belarus in retaliation.

Two years ago, several jailed Polish minority activists were forced to leave for Poland. More recently, a criminal case against the head of the unofficial Union of Poles, Anžalika Borys (Andżelika Borys), was shelved due to the lack of evidence.