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The Polish Foreign Ministry has announced that the “unfounded” charges against the leader of the Union of Poles in Belarus (ZBP), Andżelika Borys, have been dropped.
On March 2021, Andzelika Borys, a Belarusian citizen, was taken into police custody for allegedly organising an “illegal” cultural event. However, the charges against her have been updated to include inciting national and religious hatred, as well as sowing discord based on national, religious and linguistic affiliation. Prosecutors have alleged that a woman has been guilty of promoting Nazism, an offence that could land her in prison for up to 12 years.
Belarusian authorities have decided to drop all charges
“We are pleased to note that Andzelika Borys has been cleared of false charges. This is a step in the right direction. We hope that similar decisions will also be made concerning Andrzej Poczobut and other prisoners. We will not forget you,”
Lukasz Jasina tweeted.
Activist and journalist Tomasz Poczobut was handed down an eight-year prison sentence earlier this year for charges of “inciting hatred” and “terrorist activities”. The ruling sparked outrage among human rights groups, who argued that the charges were politically motivated.
“Andzelika Borys has been cleared of all charges and is a free citizen again. However, the work is not done yet. Pressure must still be applied to the Minsk regime to release additional political prisoners, including Andrzej Poczobut,”
Marcin Przydacz, the head of the Polish president’s International Policy Bureau, told a press conference later on Tuesday.