Special commissions to decide on political emigrants’ return – prosecutor general

February 6, BPN. Political emigrants who wish to return to Belarus can file applications with special commissions, Prosecutor General Andrej Švied has told journalists.

The statement follows Alaksandr Łukašenka’s February 6 edict setting out conditions for the return of political emigrants. It specifies application and document requirements.

The new rule applies to people suspected of or responsible for committing offenses from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023, Švied noted.

Special commissions will review applications submitted both in writing or electronically, he said.

“Everything is open and understandable,” he noted. “There will be an open, free vote of the commission members on each case.” The applicants have three months to decide what to do, he added.

Two-thirds of the commissions will be made up of “prominent members of the Belarusian society,” the state-run media said citing the prosecutor general.

“If we conclude that a person made a mistake, gave in to emotions or influence. . . we will recommend that law enforcement agencies take a procedural decision, for example, to terminate criminal proceedings,” he said.

The applicant would be notified about the commission’s decision in writing, allowing him or her to return to Belarus without facing a threat of persecution, the official said. “If a person committed some other crime and no one knows about it, the law would be the same for all,” he noted.

Officials discussed measures to filter political emigrants wishing to return to their homeland at a meeting with Łukašenka on January 24.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja urged Belarusians to stay alert and not to let themselves be fooled.