According to independent Belarusian media, a monk—Brother Grzegorz Gaweł, a 27-year-old Carmelite—also returned to Poland as part of today’s prisoner exchange. He had been detained and arrested in Belarus in September 2025 on allegations of espionage. The information was confirmed during a press conference by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Belarusian outlets report that a five-for-five prisoner swap took place today at the Polish-Belarusian border. Moscow and Minsk handed over three Polish citizens and two Moldovans. Among those transferred to the Belarusian side were, among others, Russian and Belarusian nationals.
According to the portals charter97.org and pozirk.online, Grzegorz Gaweł—a Carmelite monk from Kraków—is among those released and handed over to Poland.
The 27-year-old Brother Grzegorz Gaweł was detained in September 2025 in Lepel, Belarus. He was arrested and charged with espionage related, among other things, to the Belarusian-Russian military exercises “Zapad-2025.”
On September 6, the detention of the monk was confirmed by the Polish Carmelite province.
“We regret to inform that our confrere, Grzegorz Gaweł, O.Carm., has been detained in Belarus. We ask for prayers for Brother Grzegorz, entrusting him to the intercession of Our Mother—Mary, Advocate of the Holy Scapular,” the statement read at the time.
The information about Brother Grzegorz’s release was also provided by Donald Tusk during an afternoon press briefing.
“A symmetrical 5-for-5 exchange took place. The aim of this exchange was to secure the release of Poles and those who cooperated with Poland. (…) In addition to Andrzej Poczobut, Brother [Grzegorz] Gaweł was also handed over to the Polish side, as well as one Belarusian citizen who had cooperated with our intelligence services. His name has appeared in the media, but at his request, I will not disclose it,” the head of government said.
