This could compel many who fled the country amidst the escalation of political repression to return home to keep their travel documents valid.
Since widespread protests against president Lukashenko’s disputed re-election three years ago, it’s estimated that between 200 thousand to 300 thousand Belarusians have left the country. The opposition leader, who herself is in exile in Lithuania, has warned Belarusians against returning home due to potential persecution. She says that Poland and Lithuania are providing “Foreigner Passports” to Belarusians, thereby allowing them to stay.
Meanwhile, local human rights group Viasna reports over 1,500 people are presently detained in Belarus as political prisoners.
