The event marks the culmination of a complex and lengthy negotiation process between Belarus’ State Security Committee (KGB) and Poland’s Foreign Intelligence Agency, which was carried out on the direct orders of the president of Belarus.

According to participants in the exchange, negotiations began as early as September 2025. The starting point for organizing them was an appeal made to the Belarusian president by several leaders of countries friendly to Belarus. The head of state issued corresponding instructions to the State Security Committee of Belarus. Aleksandr Lukashenko personally took part in discussing the details of the exchange during bilateral contacts with our allies.

During the closed-door negotiations between Belarus’ KGB and Poland’s Foreign Intelligence Agency, the differing interests at stake made it necessary to bring in the security services of other countries. Ultimately, the intelligence agencies of seven states took part in the process.

Thanks to the balanced position of the parties and their focus on finding mutually beneficial solutions, disagreements were overcome and a positive outcome was achieved. This fully aligns with Belarus’ approach of resolving all problems through negotiations and the search for compromises.

As a result of the operation, ten citizens of various countries have been freed and given the opportunity to reunite with their families. Among those released are citizens of Belarus who carried out particularly important missions in the interests of national security and the defense capability of our country. The fate of these people was under the special supervision of Aleksandr Lukashenko at every stage of their activities.

Taking into account the personal appeal made to the president of Belarus by the mother of Andrei Pochobut, who was serving a sentence for committing a number of particularly serious crimes, as well as an appeal from Anzhelika Boris, the head of state instructed the KGB to include the convicted individual in this exchange process.

The president has issued specific directives to KGB Chairman Ivan Tertel to provide all necessary assistance to the citizens freed in the exchange, who demonstrated high professionalism, fortitude, and courage while carrying out tasks in the interests of the state. This matter has been placed under the personal supervision of the Belarusian leader.