U.S. President Donald Trump said on May 10 that three Polish and two Moldovan prisoners had been released from detention by Belarus and Russia with assistance from the U.S. government.

Among those released from a Belarusian jail was Polish Belarusian journalist ​Andrzej Poczobut, who was arrested in March 2021.

Poczobut was sentenced to eight years in ⁠prison in 2023 on charges of inciting hatred and calling for actions deemed harmful to Belarus, according to the human rights group Article 19. Polish officials have said the charges were politically motivated and pushed for his release.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said that Polish President Karol Nawrocki had asked him to help secure Poczobut’s release during their talks in September 2025.

“Today, Poczobut is free due to our efforts. The United States delivers for our Allies, and Friends,” Trump wrote, praising special envoy John Coale for his efforts in securing the release of the detainees.

Trump also thanked Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko for “his cooperation and friendship.”

Polish Prime ‌Minister ⁠Donald Tusk said on April 28 that Poczobut had been freed in a prisoner swap at the Polish–Belarusian border with “tremendous help” from partners in other nations.

“The exchange at the Polish-Belarusian border is the finale of a two-year-long intricate diplomatic game, full of dramatic twists,” Tusk said in a post on X.

“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.”

Coale said in an April 28 post on X that his team worked with the U.S. State Department and several partners to help secure the release of three Polish and two Moldovan nationals.

He thanked Poland, Moldova, and Romania for their support in the efforts and praised Lukashenko for his willingness “to pursue constructive engagement with the United States.”

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said in an April 28 post on X that she was grateful to the United States, Poland, and Romania for their efforts in securing the release of two Moldovan nationals from “Russian captivity.”

“This would not have been possible without [Donald Trump] and the US administration, and our partners in Poland and Romania,“ Sandu said. ”We are deeply grateful. They’re coming home!”

In late March, Trump said that Belarus has released more than 500 political prisoners since May 2025, including 250 prisoners freed in March, according to a statement posted by the White House.

Coale said the release was “a significant humanitarian milestone” and reflected Trump’s commitment to “direct, hard-nosed diplomacy.”

Following that, the U.S. Treasury Department on March 26 lifted sanctions against the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus, Belinvestbank, and the country’s Ministry of Finance.