Lukashenko’s regime is widely repressing people returning from abroad – media

Since the beginning of 2023, at least 125 citizens have been detained in the Republic of Belarus after returning home from abroad. LRT reported this on Monday, December 25, citing data from the Viasna Human Rights Center.

It is indicated that Belarusians arriving from Lithuania are often detained at the border.

“But checks and detentions are taking place at all borders of Belarus, including those that run along the border with Russia,” the message said.

The publication reminds that from September 2023, citizens of Belarus cannot exchange or renew their passports at embassies and consulates abroad; to do this, they must go to the country in person. Belarusians must also come to the country to conduct transactions in cars and real estate.

Belarusian human rights activists believe that in this way the Lukashenko regime has attracted citizens who oppose the current government to the country.

“Usually, detention occurs after the returnees have their phones checked by KGB officers or customs officials. They are brought to administrative responsibility under the article on the distribution of extremist materials,” pointed out human rights activists.

These facts led to the fact that the Lithuanian authorities announced the issuance of so-called “foreign passports” to citizens of Belarus located on its territory. Such documents will be issued to Belarusians who have been subjected to repression in their homeland and cannot return to the country to update their documents. There are now about a thousand such people in Lithuania.

The European Union will continue to support civil society and democratic forces in Belarus. The European Union will also extend the pressure of sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko.

Let’s remember that earlier the formal leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said that Ukraine “will still be ours,” because for the United States it seems to fade into the background.