{"id":172596,"date":"2026-01-22T11:38:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T08:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/172596\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"cichanouskaja-lauds-spains-move-to-recognize-expired-belarusian-passports","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/172596\/","title":{"rendered":"Cichano\u016dskaja lauds Spain\u2019s move to recognize expired Belarusian passports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

January 22, Pozirk<\/em>.<\/strong> Belarusian opposition leader \u015aviat\u0142ana Cichano\u016dskaja expressed her gratitude to Spain for its decision to recognize expired Belarusian passports for exiles who fear politically-motivated persecution if forced to return home to renew them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is a powerful act of solidarity with people forced to flee their country for defending freedom,” the politician said on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three days ago, Spanish authorities issued regulations to recognize expired Belarusian passports, citing as a reason Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka’s edict signed in September 2023 that prohibits Belarusian missions abroad from providing passport services to Belarusians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exiled Belarusians, around 6,000 in Spain alone, were thus forced to return to Belarus to obtain or renew their passports, despite the real risk of arrests for political reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spain will be the seventh European Union country, after Austria, Cyprus, Lithuania, France, Sweden and Estonia, to recognize expired Belarusian passports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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