Łatuška: New Belarus passport slow in making, needs recognition

June 7, Pozirk. New Belarus passport samples are not yet available, opposition politician Pavieł Łatuška said, referring to IDs for exiled Belarusians.

Valeryj Kavaleŭski, an opposition diplomat in charge of the project, would not share any details, Łatuška told Belarusians in Poland’s Lublin.

Uncertainties over the New Belarus passport are primarily linked to the lack of samples and recognition assurances, although at least two countries have reportedly expressed preliminary consent to recognize it “and were even ready to provide a country code,” the politician said.

Even though the European Commission approved procedures relating to the project’s international security standards, it would not be able to recognize it because this is the exclusive competence of national governments, he stressed. 

One of Poland’s deputy interior ministers reportedly told Łatuška that recognition was “unrealistic.”

The situation may turn around only if other countries recognize the passport, the politician noted. The opposition launched the project after Alaksandar Łukašenka prohibited embassies from providing passport services and moved to strip he outspoken critics of their Belarusian citizenship.

Also read: Kavaleŭski assures journalists of data protection for New Belarus passport