Opening the Plenary Session in Strasbourg, President Roberta Metsola welcomed the fact that Sakharov Prize Laureate Andrzej Poczobut has been released from prison in Belarus and announced that Parliament will welcome him in June.
This House is very pleased that the Sakharov Prize Laureate and fearless journalist Andrzej Poczobut was freed from prison in Belarus a few weeks ago and has now arrived safely in Poland. We welcome his release, and we congratulate the family, the services, and the people involved in making this happen. While we celebrate this moment, it also reminds us of the many political prisoners around the world who remain unfairly imprisoned. This Parliament will continue to speak out for them and for all those who stand up for freedom in the face of oppression. We will welcome Mr. Poczobut to this House in June, next session.