Poland refused to remove Hleb from the sanctions list.

The Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration officially refused former Belarusian national team player Alexander Hleb's request to be removed from the national sanctions list.

The information has been confirmed by the relevant decision of the Polish authorities, published on the official resource.

Why Hleb ended up on the sanctions list

Polish sanctions against Belarusian athletes and public figures have become part of a broader campaign to support democratic initiatives in Belarus. Hleb was among those who, according to Warsaw, have ties to the authoritarian system.

Previously, Alexander Hleb stated that he would like to visit EU countries freely and continue his sports and social activities, but the Polish decision currently blocks such an opportunity. This restriction also affects the athlete's image in European circles.

Alexander Hleb is one of the most famous football players in the history of Belarus. He played for London’s Arsenal, Barcelona, and also for the national team. After his career ended, he occasionally appeared in the media and participated in events in the CIS region.