Michele Raviart – Vatican
Among the three prisoners released on April 28 in Belarus as part of an exchange with Poland was the Polish Discalced Carmelite, Brother Grzegorz Gaweł. Arrested last September on charges of espionage, the 28-year-old religious is in good health and is already with his family.
In a statement, his confreres from the Polish province of the Order of Discalced Carmelites expressed great joy, immense relief, and gratitude. “We thank everyone for their prayers, support, and solidarity during this difficult time,” they wrote, also expressing “gratitude to the ecclesiastical and state authorities for all their help and involvement in the actions that led to his release.” The Carmelites emphasized that Brother Grzegorz “now needs time to rest after this difficult experience.”
Journalist Poczobut also among those released
The prisoner exchange took place in the so-called “5 for 5” formula. It involves the transfer of five people convicted of espionage in Belarus and Russia in exchange for five Russian and Belarusian citizens held in European Union countries.
The Belarusian side handed over to Poland – in addition to Brother Gaweł – also journalist Andrzej Poczobut, winner of the Sakharov Prize in 2025, sentenced to eight years in prison for reporting on anti-government demonstrations, and entrepreneur Tomasz Bieroz, who received a 14-year sentence.
Russia, on the other hand, handed over two Moldovan special services officers.
In turn, European countries handed over five individuals: Alexander Belan, convicted in Moldova for treason and former deputy head of the Information and Security Service; Uladzislau Nadzeika, held in Poland on charges of espionage; Russian archaeologist Alexander Butiagin, whose extradition was demanded by Ukraine in connection with “illegal excavations” in occupied Crimea; and also Russian citizen Nina Popova, wife of an official. The name of the fifth person – a special services officer – was not disclosed.
Prisoners welcomed by Prime Minister Tusk
The released prisoners were welcomed in Poland, at the “Piererow–Białowieża” border crossing with Belarus, by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who also thanked “friends” from the United States, Romania, and Moldova on platform X. The release of the prisoners followed a long and complex negotiation process.
Two priests released in November 2025
Last November, two priests were released in Belarus: Father Henryk Akalotowicz, parish priest of St. Joseph’s parish in Wołożyn, and Father Andrzej Juchniewicz from the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), serving in the diocesan shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Szumilin.
On this occasion, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Belarus drew attention to the “resumption of dialogue between the Republic of Belarus and the United States, as well as the strengthening of contacts with the Vatican.”
Currently, two more priests with Belarusian citizenship remain in Belarusian prisons – one of the Latin rite and one Greek Catholic. There is no precise information about them, but recent events give hope for their future release.
