Journalist Andrzej Poczobut's trial launched in Belarusian court

Andrzej Poczobut's relatives had a chance to see him on Monday for the first time in nearly two years. His wife Oksana and his parents were present during the trial.

Poland's charge d'affaires in Minsk Marcin Wojciechowski was not allowed to enter the courtroom. "We shall not cease our efforts aimed at finding a positive solution of Poczobut's case," Wojciechowski said.

"Unfortunately, despite numerous diplomatic attempts, we do not have any additional instruments at the moment that could help in that regard," spokesperson for the Polish government Piotr Muller said at a press briefing on Monday.

Poczobut was detained in March 2021 along with several activists. He faces charges of inciting actions aimed at harming the national security of Belarus. If found guilty, Poczobut can face up to 12 years in prison.

Deputy chief of the Union of Poles in Belarus, Marek Zaniewski, told TVN24 that "unfortunately there's is no optimism that this trial will be fair". "Andrzej is facing a lengthy trial likely followed by a harsh sentence," he added.

Commenting on the charges presented to Poczobut, Zaniewski called them "absurd". "Possibly one the reasons why the trial is closed is to save the court from embarrassing itself."

Zaniewski also said that the conditions in Belarusian prisons are like "in the 1940s or 1950s". "That's why we can see that these two years did take their toll on Andrzej's health. He lost a lot of weight, he is exhausted, but he's not losing spirit and intends to defend himself in court," he added.

Belarusian Viasna Human Rights Centre informed in October last year that President Alexander Lukashenko's regime had placed Poczobut on its "list of terrorists".

In late August this year, Poczobut said in a letter he wrote in prison that he was waiting for trial in expectation to be sent down to a labour camp.

"Thanks for the memory and concern regarding my fate. Obviously, it's very nice to know you weren't forgotten, even though my captivity has lasted 17 months. Things are stable. Prison, cell, bars - all of it is already familiar and homely :)" - Poczobut wrote.

"I'm under no illusion as to the outcome (of the trial - edit.), I will calmly hear the verdict and go to the labor camp with clear conscience. Well, such is my fate. I always knew that when times like these come to Belarus, I will end up in prison. As my current reality shows, I was not wrong," the incarcerated journalist said in the letter.

Belarusian human rights organisations, Polish authorities, and the international community have called the persecution of Polish minority in Belarus activists as "politically motivated" show trials being part of a wave of attacks on civic society in Belarus and freedom of speech.

Hundreds of Belarusians who were jailed during a violent crackdown on anti-government protests that erupted in the summer of 2020 following a disputed presidential election.

Those rights advocates estimate there are around 1,500 political prisoners in Belarusian prisons.

Around 50,000 people have been detained for taking part in protests or criticising the authorities since 2020, they say.