For the first time following changes to Finnish legislation, a child was granted a residence permit based on a foreign travel document. Previously, obtaining or renewing a residence permit without a valid Belarusian passport was impossible.
Thanks to the efforts of the democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, and the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Tallinn, which systematically addressed this issue, the necessary legal amendments were introduced. The law now allows the requirement for travel documents to be waived in certain cases – when there is a significant reason or when it is in the child’s best interest.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski: “Let me sincerely thank our Finnish partners, the Mission of Democratic Forces in Tallinn, and the entire Belarusian diaspora in Finland, who worked tirelessly to make this possible. This is an important step that allows Belarusian children to live in safety, even when they cannot obtain the required documents. Such issues are rarely resolved quickly – they require patience and precise argumentation. But we will continue doing everything to protect the interests of Belarusians abroad. It is our duty to help those who have had to leave their homes for their own safety and that of their families”.
