Belarus eyes Western ties as it frees journalist Andrzej Poczobut

President Alexandr Lukashenko is hoping to improve relations with the West once more.Belarus has released Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut from jail as part of a prisoner exchange.Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the release on Tuesday, noting that Warsaw had been helped in a joint diplomatic push on Minsk by the United States, Romania and Moldova.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4‘We can’t go out’: Migrants hide as Mauritania presses deportation campaignlist 2 of 4Australia’s top diplomat visits China to talk energy securitylist 3 of 4UAE leaves OPEC in blow to oil cartel during war on Iranlist 4 of 4Kandice in southern Lebanonend of listThe prisoner swap with Poland saw 10 prisoners released overall, with signs that Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko is hoping to improve relations with the West once more. Ties have deteriorated due to his support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Poczobut was detained by Belarusian authorities in 2021 and later sentenced to eight years in a labour camp after a trial widely criticised by rights groups and Western governments as politically motivated.Concerns had grown in recent years about his health while in detention.“Andrzej Poczobut is free! Welcome to your Polish home, my friend,” Tusk posted on social media.Belarus also ⁠released Polish priest ⁠Grzegorz Gawel and a Belarusian who helped Polish ‌services, whose name was not to be revealed, ⁠the Polish leader added.‌Russians and Moldovans were also among the prisoners swapped in a “five ⁠for ⁠five” exchange.Joint-effortTusk also noted that the release followed lengthy diplomatic efforts.“The exchange at the Polish-Belarusian border is the finale of a two-year-long intricate diplomatic game, full of dramatic twists,” he said.“It succeeded thanks to the outstanding work of our services, diplomats and prosecutors, as well as the tremendous help from our American, Romanian and Moldovan friends.”