Canada en Pologne

Andrzej Poczobut’s @poczobut visit to Ottawa was brief, but his message resonated deeply: democratic values, human dignity and freedom of expression are worth cherishing, nurturing and preserving. A prominent Polish-Belarusian journalist and human rights activist, Mr Poczobut was imprisoned by the Lukashenko regime for his work and commitment to democratic values such as rights of national minorities. Recently released from a Belarusian penal colony as part of a multi-country prisoner exchange, he brought to Ottawa a deeply personal account of resilience and hope. During his visit, Mr Poczobut met with Canadian parliamentarians, including Speaker of the House of Commons Hon. Francis Scarpaleggia @HoCSpeaker and Polish-Canadian Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Tom Kmiec @tomkmiec, members of the House of Commons’ Subcommittee on international Human Rights as well as Global Affairs Canada officials, journalists, representatives of think tanks, students, the Polish community and the Belarusian diaspora. 💬 He spoke about political prisoners and the situation of the Polish minority in Belarus, Belarus’s role in the region and its relationship with Russia, the prospects for democratisation, and the broader geopolitical consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine. At both the Embassy of Poland and the @uOttawa where he had a lecture, the rooms were filled to capacity. Mr Poczobut answered numerous questions from engaged audiences, making both meetings an opportunity for an open and substantive exchange. He described Belarus as being “five minutes” from becoming a fully totalitarian state, while stressing that this window can still be widened. The attention and solidarity of free societies offers hope to those facing repression and supporting the possibility of a more open future. 🕯️ Mr Poczobut also paid tribute at Ottawa’s Memorial to the Victims of Communism, remembering the millions who lost their lives under totalitarian regimes. 🤝 Thank you to everyone who joined us and showed such strong interest in these important issues. The full rooms and thoughtful questions were themselves a powerful reminder of why these conversations matter. 🔗 Listen to Andrzej Poczobut speak about democracy, human rights and the importance of critical thinking: youtu.be/n0-T1vc_ta4?si=RPhT… *** @HoCCommittees, @GAC_Corporate, @EUinCanada, @Polska