New Belarus passport project
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The New Belarus passport project[a] was initiated by the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus (a government-in-exile) to provide legal identification for the citizens of Belarus emigrated for political reasons, in response to the decree of President Alexander Lukashenko forbidding the issuance and renewal of Belarusian passports abroad. For the oppositionists to return to Belarus for passport renewal means an imminent prosecution.[2]
History[edit]
The exiled Belarusian opposition started discussing this idea in 2020. The Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya thought of it as a rather symbolic gesture. However, with the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine war, in which Belarus was indirectly, but considerably involved, the treatment of the idea became more serious.[3] Tikhanouskaya first put forth this idea before the European Union and European countries in March 2023 and seeks support from them in this endeavor.[2]
Issues[edit]
While there are a variety travel documents issued by some states, such as laissez-passer, they cannot resolve a number of legal services. Therefore, the full-fledged passport is a rather pressing issue for the Belarusian opposition in exile.[3]
The two fundamental issues to be resolved are the legal recognition and international security standards for the document, of which the legal recognition is the most complex issue. A related issue is that passports have to have a unique three-letter country code. There is a preliminary agreement with an undisclosed country that it would share its code.[3]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Паспорт «Новой Беларуси»: действующий документ или красивый сувенир с Погоней?". belsat.eu (in Russian).
- ^ a b Belarus Opposition Leader Seeks Alternative Passports for Exiles
- ^ a b c Passport control. The Belarusian opposition is working on an alternative passport for the country’s citizens in exile. Could it succeed?