Skip to Content

Belarusians who fled repression face new hurdles as they try to rebuild their lives abroad

By YURAS KARMANAU
Associated Press

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians who fled repression in their homeland face the prospect of having invalid documents after authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree halting passport renewals abroad. Many of these self-exiles left Belarus amid a harsh government crackdown over the disputed 2020 presidential election, and a return home means they risk being arrested. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged them not to go back, saying, “Not a single document in the world is worth human freedom.” She says she and other exiled opposition figures are creating new passports that they hope other nations will recognize as valid.

Article Topic Follows: AP-National

Jump to comments ↓

Associated Press

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content