Łukašenka regime attempting to lure back Belarusians fleeing reprisals
January 24, BPN. Authorities consider for allowing some political émigrés to return Alaksandr Łukašenka said as he instructed officials to set up a commission to screen those who comes back for loyalty to his regime.
Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians fled their country in fear of political reprisals as the regime continues its relentless crackdown on dissent.
“We should make a step towards those who made a mistake and have come to regret about it,” his press office’s unofficial Telegram channel quoted him as saying.
“Obviously, our enemies will keep these people from returning home in every way possible,” he noted. “Ordinary people will always be a battering ram against the state and a constant source of personal financial well-being for the fugitives who sell the interests of the people.”
“Those who continued destructive activities against our country with the support of Western secret services will answer before the law,” Łukašenka warned.
Some of the dissidents based abroad are reportedly hoping to use force and create illegal paramilitary groups, he noted, stressing that “in this case, there is no way back for them.”
Lithuania’s Migration Department registered 48,800 Belarusians legally residing in the country as of late 2022, the Lithuanian interior ministry reported.
As of late November 2022, a total of 68,684 Belarusians resided in Poland with proper legal permits, according to Polish authorities.
Other destinations include Armenia, Estonia, Germany, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Ukraine. The exodus, including of high-skilled and well-paid professionals, has had a negative impact on the Belarusian economy and government finances.
- Elections, PoliticsCEC head dismisses personal sanctions as ineffectiveThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPaźniak urges West to negotiate political prisoners' release with MinskThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsDefense ministry: army equipped with 90 new items last yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja to discuss regional security in Brussels tomorrowThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsOpposition leader: regime uses hostages to put pressure on western neighborsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNGO network forwards evidence of Łukašenka’s crimes to ICCThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJailed Babaryka Jr to stand another trialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsReprisals: two Belarusians convicted for disrupting Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsNGOs attempted a coup in 2020 – Belarusian ambassador claimsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyGeorgia did not satisfy a single asylum request from Belarusians in 2019–2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus reports death of a foreigner at Latvian borderThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyBelarus officials, entrepreneurs discussing ways to improve business conditionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyGovernment brands 30 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUkraine's outgoing envoy: democratic change possible in Belarus after Russia's defeatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBiełaruski Hajun shuts down after security breachThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja asks Albania to use UN to help Belarusian political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusians net sellers of foreign currency in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ foreign exchange reserves up 4.6 percent in JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition, Pact of Free Cities agree on self-government training for BelarusiansThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyOfficials boast expanding cell service coverage in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, Politics
- EconomyGovernment cuts export duties on selected oil products by 60 percentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: data breach of opposition chat fuels evacuation requestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- EconomyRussia’s Lada outsells China's Geely in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+