Belarusian arrested upon return from Sweden after denied asylum – reports

August 28, Pozirk. A Belarusian national denied asylum by the Swedish Migration Agency was arrested in a politically-motivated case upon his return to Belarus, Sveriges Radio reports.
The man and his mother requested asylum in Sweden two years ago, citing criminal persecution in Belarus for participation in 2020 postelection protests in Belarus.
Last week, both were reportedly deported from Sweden to Belarus even though their asylum requests were denied in 2023. The man was arrested at the border, while the whereabouts of his mother remain unknown.
Until recently, migration authorities used to evaluate Belarusian asylum seekers’ applications based on outdated information, despite available new data on reprisals proving the intensification of politically-motivated crackdown targeting 2020 protesters, according to migration lawyer Stefan Krstic.
Last year, more than 100 Belarusians requested asylum in Sweden, yet only three were granted their requests, Dźmitryj Vasserman, a Belarusian community activist, said earlier this month. Not all of them were deported, as some appealed the decisions, while others chose to leave Sweden, he added.
While acknowledging Sweden’s support of the Belarusian pro-democracy movement, the activist noted its “extremely restrictive” migration policies and the impossibility of lobbying for the interests of Belarusian asylum seekers.
Sweden turns down Cichanoŭski's cameraman's request for asylum – Viasna
- Politics, SocietyOpposition leader commemorates victims of mass deportations from Baltic statesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja’s office suspends volunteer analyst over KGB leak fearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyIrregular Belarus-Latvia crossings exceed 5,000 since late MarchThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNigerian MPs to visit Belarus this monthThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: jailed media managers among dozens branded “extremists”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Security, SocietyAir raid alert in Lithuania’s Vilnius county near Belarus borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja looking for ideas ahead of New Belarus ConferenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus wood pellet industry in deep crisis following EU sanctions and failed evasion attempts, report saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, SocietyPole gets 30 months in prison for smuggling Belarusian cigarettesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityEnding Ukraine war hinges on several people, Łukašenka saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society, SportUkraine urges 30 international federations to maintain restrictions on Belarusian athletesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsHouse of Representatives approves ratification bill for agreement with Togo on visa-free travel for officialsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus to repair road at Bieniakoni checkpoint until July – border committeeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- PoliticsLithuania's top diplomat pushes for EU sanctions on Łukašenka's regimeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy, SocietyPoland cracks down on cigarette smuggling ring linked to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka seeks expanded ties, visa facilitation with PhilippinesThe material is available only to POZIRK+


