Some Belarusians in exile have received letters at their registered addresses in Belarus, notifying them that their passports have been declared invalid and requiring them to appear at the Department of Citizenship and Migration to renew the document. Failure to comply, the letters warn, may result in a fine.
As a reminder, in 2023, the regime stopped renewing expired passports abroad.
This shows that repression is expanding:
- The regime is increasingly pressuring those who have found refuge abroad;
- Administrative procedures and formal requirements are being turned into instruments of political blackmail and intimidation;
- People are forced to choose between safety and legal status, as these measures create artificial obstacles for Belarusians in exile who cannot return without risking persecution.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Advisor on Legal Affairs, Leanid Marozau: “The regime is even using expired passports as a weapon against its own citizens. This is yet another proof that persecution does not stop either beyond Belarus’ borders or over time. We see how the system is gradually expanding the field of repression to keep Belarusians in constant fear and dependency”.
What to do if you receive such a letter?
First and foremost, weigh the risks of returning to Belarus to renew your passport. A fine is a small price compared to the risk of ending up detained and facing a politically motivated sentence.
