“There was no time for negotiations. If the exchange was blocked and it turned out that it was against the will of Andrzej Poczobut, we would have a very serious problem,” President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with “Kanał Zero”, referring to the case of Andrzej Poczobut, who is in a Belarusian prison.
President Duda spoke about the prisoner exchange that took place between Russia and Western countries.
We did not participate in these negotiations. That is the truth. The Americans led these negotiations. It was the Americans who talked to Russia. It was they who led these negotiations from the beginning. That is all I can say about it.
– he said.
This slight thaw, which consisted of the release of prisoners, also occurred after my return from China. We have been trying in various ways since yesterday to free Andrzej Poczobut. In different ways. We have not forgotten this matter, we have made efforts for it. You could have tried to block this exchange of spies. (…) Because the Polish authorities found out about it at the last minute. (…) The appeal was made to us, as Allies, for an exchange to take place. It was a difficult decision. The Prime Minister had to make this decision, he spoke to me beforehand. I understand that it was a difficult decision. I do not deny this decision.
– he said.
The case of Andrzej Poczobut
The President spoke about the situation of Andrzej Poczobut and possible solutions to the situation.
However, I want you to be assured that we are working on the case of Andrzej Poczobut. I have not had the opportunity to speak with Andrzej Poczobut about this case. But I can tell you one thing, Mr. Andrzej Poczobut, once, when I had several… we had several possibilities to get him out of prison a few years ago, because he has been in prison for many years, he did not agree to certain solutions that we proposed. That was the truth then. I do not know if he would like to be exchanged for spies, without being able to return to Belarus and therefore without being able to be with his family. Without the possibility of being a normal citizen. We also believe that he was arrested illegally, that he is being held illegally, that he is an innocent, free and honest man. Therefore, it is his sacred right to get out of this prison and to be able to move around Belarus wherever he wants, as a free man, a citizen of Belarus. He is a citizen of Belarus. He emphasized this many times: I am a citizen of Belarus. Yes, I am Polish, this is my origin, this is my blood, these are my genes. This is my heritage – Polishness. But I was born in Belarus, I am a citizen of Belarus, I am in my homeland.
– he said.
There was no time for negotiations. If the exchange was blocked and it turned out that it was against Andrzej Poczobut’s wishes, we would have a very serious problem.
– he added.
At the end of the interview, he spoke about Poczobut’s chances of being released.
I think we are much closer. We are not one step closer. (…) We are working very hard and I see signs of change on the other side. (…) We are much closer
– said Andrzej Duda.
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mly/”Channel Zero”
