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Poland’s Highest State Award Given to Imprisoned Journalist Andrzej Poczobut
Polish-Belarusian journalist and activist Andrzej Poczobut has been awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state honour, in recognition of his courage and unwavering commitment to human rights despite years of political persecution in Belarus. President Karol Nawrocki announced the award on 11 November 2025, noting Poczobut’s steadfast defence of civil liberties and his refusal to bow to authoritarian pressure. Poczobut, a long-time correspondent for Gazeta Wyborcza and an outspoken leader of the Polish minority in Belarus, has been detained since March 2021. He received an eight-year sentence in 2023 on charges widely condemned by rights groups as fabricated retaliation for his reporting.
Poland’s decision to honour a journalist imprisoned abroad serves as a powerful assertion of solidarity. It affirms that independent journalism is a public service that must be defended even when it provokes state hostility. Awarding Poczobut while he remains behind bars highlights the view that courage in journalism is not diminished by incarceration.
Supporters welcomed the symbolic weight of the recognition but stressed the need for concrete diplomatic efforts to secure his release and protect press freedom in Belarus. While symbolic acts matter, advocates warn that without decisive follow-through, the award risks remaining purely ceremonial.
Read the full story – https://tjcproject.org/imprisoned-journalist-andrzej-poczobut-awarded-polands-highest-state-honour/