{"id":194679,"date":"2026-07-06T21:38:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T18:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/194679\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T21:38:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T18:38:47","slug":"former-political-prisoners-without-valid-passports-may-end-up-stateless-un-experts-warn","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/194679\/","title":{"rendered":"Former political prisoners without valid passports may end up stateless, UN experts warn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

July 6, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>UN experts expressed \u201cserious concern\u201d over the arbitrary invalidation of passports of eight former Belarusian political prisoners forcibly expelled from Belarus and warned that the measure may amount to a \u201ccontinuing form of transnational repression\u201d and expose them to risks of statelessness and other human rights violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe sequence of politically motivated imprisonment, forced expulsion and subsequent invalidation of passports points to an escalating pattern of transnational repression,\u201d the experts said in a press release <\/a>published on July 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They warned that the \u201carbitrary invalidation of identity documents can severely affect a person’s right to freedom of movement, family life, legal status and access to employment, healthcare, banking services and other essential rights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experts recalled that they raised similar concerns in their December 2025 public statement following the deportation of Belarusian political prisoners to Lithuania, and in an October 2025 communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experts noted that during its 2025 Universal Periodic Review, Belarus had accepted recommendations to continue efforts aimed at reducing statelessness and to move towards accession to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experts expressed concerns about the situation of human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka, a former political prisoner, who left Belarus after completing his prison term and was subsequently convicted in his absence and is now reportedly facing three additional criminal investigations for \u201cextremist\u201d offences related to his human rights activities and public expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBelarus must urgently cease using its vague and overly broad anti-extremism legislation to punish the legitimate exercise of protected rights,\u201d the press release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experts recalled previous concerns about trials of exiled Belarusians, warning that the procedure is incompatible with fundamental fair trial guarantees, including the rights to effective notification, access to case materials, legal representation, meaningful appeal and effective remedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cContinuing criminal proceedings against Mr. Sudalenka, his inclusion in wanted-person databases and his inability to safely return to Belarus to reunite with his family illustrate the lasting and harmful effects of transnational repression, which seeks to intimidate, punish and silence human rights defenders even after they have left their country,\u201d the press release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experts in question are Nils Mui\u017enieks, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus; Andrea Bola\u00f1os Vargas, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and Ben Saul, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Viasna Human Rights Center reported in late March that Belarusian authorities had annulled the passports of former political prisoners expelled from Belarus following their early release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all expelled political prisoners went public about the annulment of their passports, but many dozens are likely to have been affected by this decision. In addition, scores have been forced out of the country without any IDs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PACE explores ID solutions for Belarusian victims of transnational repression<\/h3>\n
June 26, Pozirk. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) condemned all forms of transnational repression and urged countries to adopt new laws to prevent it in a resolution adopted yesterday based on a report by Constantinos Efstathiou, …<\/div>\n \n