Andrzej Poczobut
Honouring a journalist who defended freedom, historical truth and the Polish minority in Belarus — at enormous personal cost.
The Platform of European Memory and Conscience (PEMC) is pleased to announce that Andrzej Poczobut — a Belarusian independent journalist, human rights defender, and activist for the Polish minority in Belarus — has been selected as the laureate of the 2026 Prize of the Platform.
In a democratic vote open to all members of the Platform, Poczobut was chosen by a clear majority. The award recognises his outspoken civic courage, his commitment to independent journalism, his defence of human rights and his efforts to preserve the historical truth about Belarus.
His selection comes after years of imprisonment and persecution by the Belarusian authorities — a recognition of a man whose commitment to truth and freedom has remained steadfast despite the personal cost.
A man whose commitment to truth and freedom has remained steadfast — despite the personal cost.
A journalist who refused to remain silent
Born in 1973, Andrzej Poczobut has worked as an independent journalist since the late 1990s. Through his reporting, he has documented political developments in Belarus, defended freedom of expression and advocated for the rights of the country’s Polish minority.
His work has also addressed Belarus’s complex and contested history, including the Polish community’s experience and the legacy of anti-totalitarian resistance. This commitment to historical truth is particularly significant for PEMC, whose mission is to preserve the memory of totalitarian crimes and defend the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Poczobut’s journalism repeatedly brought him into conflict with Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. He faced harassment, intimidation, arrests, searches and the confiscation of his property before being imprisoned in a series of politically motivated cases.
Years of persecution and imprisonment
Poczobut spent more than five years in Belarusian detention and prison. His conviction was widely condemned by human rights organisations and the Polish authorities, and his release came only after sustained diplomatic efforts and international cooperation.
The Prize of the Platform
The Prize of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience is awarded annually to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding civic courage in resisting totalitarianism and defending the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It recognises those who, through their actions, personal commitment and moral courage, have helped preserve historical truth and defend human dignity in the face of oppression.
Andrzej Poczobut joins a distinguished line of laureates who have carried forward the legacy of truth in the face of repression:
A message to Europe
The Platform considers the recognition of Andrzej Poczobut an important reminder that the defence of freedom of expression, independent journalism and historical truth remains an essential responsibility of European society.
His story demonstrates the importance of supporting those who defend these principles — including in countries where the right to speak freely and to preserve historical memory is under sustained pressure.
PEMC congratulates Andrzej Poczobut on this honour and expresses its solidarity with all those who continue to defend freedom, truth and human dignity in Belarus.
The Platform of European Memory and Conscience is an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to research, documentation, awareness-raising and education about the totalitarian regimes that befell Europe in the 20th century.
Through its work, the Platform promotes historical truth, remembrance of the victims of totalitarianism, and the defence of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.