Lukashenko banned the issuing of passports to Belarusians living abroad

Citizens of Belarus permanently residing abroad will not be able to obtain, exchange or extend a passport at embassies and consulates abroad.

This is stated in the decree of the President of Belarus, Oleksandr Lukashenko, which is not recognized by many countries.

Previously, Belarusians living permanently outside Belarus and being in the consular register could obtain or exchange a passport at embassies and consulates. From September 5, a passport or its renewal can be obtained only from the internal affairs authorities or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but only on the territory of Belarus.

The regime in Belarus is "doing well"

Persons whose documents for obtaining a new passport abroad are already being considered, this does not apply to the order of examination, which does not change.

Consulates will no longer keep records of transactions involving real estate on the territory of Belarus and passenger vehicles of citizens living abroad.

The decree states that a resident of Belarus living abroad can obtain a passport or sell a car without personal presence – based on a notarized power of attorney. However, it is emphasized that the power of attorney must be performed by the parties in the territory of the country.

The order will enter into force after its official publication on the National Legal Portal.

On August 9, 2020, presidential elections were held in Belarus, which neither the opposition nor the international community considered free and fair. According to official results, the incumbent president, Oleksandr Lukashenko, has 80.08% of the votes, and his main competitor, Svitlana Tykhanovskaya, has 10.09%.

On September 23, 2020, Lukashenko was officially declared president at the Independence Palace in Minsk. The inauguration ceremony was secret, information about it was disclosed.

As a sign of protest against the fraudulent elections, mass protests began in Belarus, which were suppressed by the security forces on Lukashenko's orders. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus has created a database of participants in the anti-Lukashenko protests.

Many Belarusians were forced to leave the country as a result of political repression. According to the BEROC research center, in 2021-2022, up to 172,000 people could leave for EU countries alone Belarusians.