{"id":11902,"date":"2023-03-15T14:15:28","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T14:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/?p=11902"},"modified":"2024-02-07T16:28:39","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T16:28:39","slug":"pen-international-call-to-release-writer-and-journalist-andzej-poczobut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/2023\/03\/15\/pen-international-call-to-release-writer-and-journalist-andzej-poczobut.html","title":{"rendered":"PEN International calls to release writer and journalist Andzej Poczobut"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"block-f57fa59341c1310fca42\" class=\"sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html\" data-block-type=\"2\">\n<div class=\"sqs-block-content\">\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\">PEN International believes that Poczobut is being targeted for his views and writings critical of the Belarusian authorities. The organisation calls for his immediate and unconditional release, and for his sentencing and conviction to be overturned on appeal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>TAKE ACTION<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-yui_3_17_2_1_1678872804443_4430\" class=\"sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify\" data-block-type=\"2\">\n<div class=\"sqs-block-content\">\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\"><strong>Advocacy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\"><strong>Please send appeals to the authorities of Belarus, urging them to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Release Poczobut immediately and unconditionally, and to overtun his sentencing and conviction on appeal;<\/li>\n<li class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Ensure that, pending his release, he is held in conditions that meet international standards for the treatment of prisoners, including by providing access to adequate health care and regular communication with his family and lawyers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Send appeals to:<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\"><strong>Oleg Matkin<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Role: Head of the Department for the Execution of Punishments Department for the Execution of Punishments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Email: <a href=\"mailto:pismo@din.gov.by\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">pismo@din.gov.by<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Send copies to the Embassy of Belarus in your own country. Embassy addresses may be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/mfa.gov.by\/en\/bilateral\/belarus\/?asd50\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">https:\/\/mfa.gov.by\/en\/bilateral\/belarus\/?asd50<\/a> .<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Please reach out to your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic representatives in Belarus, calling on them to raise the case of \u00a0Poczobut in bilateral fora.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\"><strong>***Please send appeals immediately. Check with PEN International if sending appeals after 14 May 2023. *** <\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\"><strong>Solidarity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Please send messages of solidarity to:<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Andrzej Poczobut<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Prison No. 1, vulica Kirava 1<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">230023, Hrodna, Belarus<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Messages can also be sent via this <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSfhsgpGwDc9sskZ82LN_eKwwZBAX9U5kLARAFo2eR1UGw8Usg\/viewform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Please send copies to Aur\u00e9lia Dondo: <a href=\"mailto:Aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">Aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\"><strong>Outreach<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">PEN members are encouraged to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Publish articles and opinion pieces in your national or local press highlighting the case of Poczobut and the state of freedom of expression in Belarus;<\/li>\n<li class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Share information about Poczobut and your campaigning activities via social media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\">Please keep us informed of your activities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-yui_3_17_2_1_1678872804443_9352\" class=\"sqs-block horizontalrule-block sqs-block-horizontalrule\" style=\"text-align: justify\" data-block-type=\"47\">\n<div class=\"sqs-block-content\"><strong>Background<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"block-yui_3_17_2_1_1678872804443_9412\" class=\"sqs-block html-block sqs-block-html\" data-block-type=\"2\">\n<div class=\"sqs-block-content\">\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Born on 16 April 1973, Andrzej Poczobut is an essayist, journalist, columnist, blogger, poet, and musician. He is a correspondent of <em>Gazeta Wyborcza<\/em> \u2013 a Polish daily newspaper \u2013 and works for several Belarusian media outlets. His book <em>System Bia\u0142oru\u015b<\/em> (System Belarus), published in 2013, explores President Lukashenko\u2019s grip on Belarus. Poczobut is a prominent Polish-Belarusian minority activist and holds dual citizenship. He has has been the target of the authorities for years, notably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/documents\/eur49\/018\/2012\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">receiving<\/a> a three-year suspended prison sentence in July 2011 for \u2018libelling the President\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\">A board member of the Union of Poles in Belarus, Poczobut was <a href=\"https:\/\/cpj.org\/data\/people\/andrzej-poczobut\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">detained<\/a> on 25 March 2021 in Hrodna, Western Belarus, after the Union\u2019s offices throughout the country were searched. He was taken to a detention centre in Minsk and charged with inciting hatred in connection with his coverage of 2020 anti-government protests in Belarus, statements he made in support of the Polish minority in Belarus, and his <a href=\"https:\/\/penclub.com.pl\/2023\/02\/12\/apel-w-sprawie-andrzeja-poczobuta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">labelling<\/a> of the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 as \u2018an act of aggression\u2019. Poczobut was subsequently <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/bajby\/8578\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">charged<\/a> with encouraging sanctions aimed at harming the national security of Belarus in August 2022 and <a href=\"https:\/\/baj.by\/be\/content\/kdb-papouniu-svoy-terarystychny-spis-palitznyavolenym-zhurnalistam-andreem-pachobutam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">added<\/a> to the \u2018list of individuals involved in terrorist activities\u2019 in October 2022. The Polish authorities repeatedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.pl\/web\/nato-en\/mfa-statement-on-anniversary-of-detaining-representatives-of-union-of-poles-in-belarus-andzelika-borys-and-andrzej-poczobut-by-belarusian-security-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">called<\/a> for his release, to no avail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\">Poczobut was transferred to a pre-trial detention centre in Hrodna in September 2022. His trial opened on 16 January 2023 behind closed doors. He was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in a medium-security penal colony on 8 February 2023. Both <a href=\"\/en\/2023\/02\/08\/zayava-z-nagody-prysudu-andreyu-pachobutu.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">PEN Belarus<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/penclub.com.pl\/2023\/02\/12\/apel-w-sprawie-andrzeja-poczobuta\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">Polish PEN<\/a> condemned the verdict. His family said they have have lodged an appeal. On 4 March 2023, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) <a href=\"https:\/\/baj.by\/en\/content\/andrzej-poczobut-placed-solitary-confinement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">reported<\/a> that Poczobut had been placed in solidarity confinement for a week, for unknown reasons. BAJ further stated that Poczobut has a stomach problem and can only consume certain foods, which are not availably to him in prison, and that he has lost a considerable amount of weight. As <a href=\"\/en\/2023\/03\/03\/rus-pravo-na-kulturu-belarus-2022.html#m4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">documented<\/a> by PEN Belarus, prison conditions in Belarus are dire. Prisoners are made to share small, insalubrious cells and are largely expected to provide for themselves, relying on family members to bring in food, warm clothes and medicine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\">The situation for freedom of expression in Belarus remains a grave concern, as the authorities\u2019 relentless crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly continues unabaited. According to BAJ, 32 journalists were behind bars at the time of writing. In a decision published on 7 March 2023, the authorities <a href=\"https:\/\/baj.by\/en\/content\/journalists-and-human-rights-defenders-are-not-extremists-baj-considers-it-absurd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">designed<\/a> BAJ as an \u2018extremist\u2019 organisation, making it even harder for independent journalists to work in Belarus. PEN Belarus, which was disolved in August 2021 and operates from Poland, has been systematically documenting cultural and human rights violations against cultural figures since October 2019. Their latest report <a href=\"\/en\/2023\/03\/03\/rus-pravo-na-kulturu-belarus-2022.html#m4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">details<\/a> 1390 instances of violations in 2022 alone; 108 cultural figures were behind bars by the end of the year including writer, Nobel Peace Prize winner and PEN Belarus member <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pen-international.org\/news\/ales-bialiatski-sentenced-to-prison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">Ales Bialiatski<\/a>, and prominent philosopher and PEN Belarus member <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pen-international.org\/news\/belarus-philosopher-uladzimir-mackievi-sentenced-to-prison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">Uladzimir Mackievi\u010d<\/a>. The report also documents increased pressure by the authorities on Polish and Lithuanian national minorities. Amendments to the Education Act, which entered into force on 1 September 2022, notably bans instruction in languages other than Russian and Belarusian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\">For more information about the work of PEN Belarus \u2013 including their latest reports and monitoring findings \u2013 please click <a href=\"\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\">For more information about PEN International\u2019s work on Belarus, please click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pen-international.org\/search?q=belarus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"preFade fadeIn\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>For further details contact Aur\u00e9lia Dondo, Head of Europe and Central Asia Region at PEN International:\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"mailto:Aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener\"><em>Aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>Writer and journalist Andrzej Poczobut is serving an eight-year sentence in a medium-security penal colony on trumped up charges of inciting hatred and encouraging sanctions aimed at harming the national security of Belarus. A dual Belarusian-Polish national, Poczobut was arbitrarily detained on 25 March 2021 and spent almost two years behind bars before his unfair sentencing. He is said to have serious health problems and to be routinely denied access to correspondence, especially in Polish. According to his family, he was recently sent to solitary confinement for seven days. The reason for this punishment is not yet known. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":11904,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4201],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-solidarity"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11902"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11914,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11902\/revisions\/11914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/penbelarus.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}