Poland Fires Officials Over Belarus Info Leak

Ales Byalyatski

Poland has fired two officials in the Prosecutor-General's Office for their role in handing Belarus information that led to the arrest of a prominent human rights activist.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski last week apologized for the leak, saying the Prosecutor-General's Office had released banking information on Ales Byalyatski and several other Belarusian opposition activists following a request by authorities in Minsk.

Byalyatski was detained in Belarus earlier this month on suspicion of tax evasion and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience.

compiled from agency reports