Adam Michnik, editor-in-chief of Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza, said Poczobut was targeted on “incredibly trivial and absurd claims,” adding: “Still, he refused to leave Belarus. He sacrificed his freedom but wanted to remain in Belarus because he is its citizen and has the right to reside there.” Poland closed the Bobrowniki border crossing in February 2023, a day after the verdict, tying any reopening to Poczobut’s freedom.