Dictator Alexander Lukashenko ordered Belarusian embassies abroad to stop issuing passports.
According to the decree published on Monday, Belarusians will be able to receive a new passport or extend an existing one only at their last official place of residence in the territory of Belarus.
Until now, Belarusians living abroad could get a new passport at Belarusian diplomatic and consular missions.
After the suppression of mass protests in 2020, tens of thousands of Belarusians were forced to flee the country, and returning to the territory of Belarus may threaten their freedom or even their lives.
At the same time, the impossibility of extending the validity of their travel document may jeopardize their legal status in their current home country.
Sviatlana Cihanouska, the opposition leader living in exile, has announced on social media that she is “cooperating with the host countries to resolve this situation”.
She also said that a “new Belarusian passport” was being prepared, without explaining what that meant.
According to the data of the human rights organization “Vyasna” (Spring), there are currently 1,501 political prisoners in Belarus.
2023-09-05 18:25:05
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