Belarusian journalist, opposition figure and Sakharov Prize laureate
Belarus has released a handful of prisoners as part of a multi-country exchange brokered by the United States, with Poland, Moldova and Romania among those involved. Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut is among the detainees freed, returning home after years in a Belarusian penal colony. The swap also involves Moldovan and Russian detainees and is framed by ongoing efforts to normalize Minsk’s relations with Western partners.
Moldovan Prime Minister Munteanu has stepped down, saying he can no longer govern according to his principles. President Sandu will consult parliament to appoint a successor; a caretaker government remains in place while a new cabinet is formed. The move follows ongoing scrutiny over a state aviation company and governance questions.