Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was refused a bank account in Poland due to her expired Belarusian passport.
Key facts
- •Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was refused a bank account in Poland due to her expired Belarusian passport.
- •Tsikhanouskaya plans to seek banking services at a different institution.
- •A September 2023 decree by Alexander Lukashenko stopped passport renewals at Belarusian diplomatic missions abroad.
- •The decree requires Belarusian citizens to return to their home country to renew travel documents.
- •Some countries, including Spain, have opted to recognize expired Belarusian passports to assist citizens living abroad.
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya stated she was denied a bank account in Poland because her Belarusian passport had expired. Tsikhanouskaya, who currently holds Lithuanian documents, noted that she intends to attempt opening an account at a different bank.
Challenges for Belarusians abroad
Tsikhanouskaya stated that Poland is working to address the difficulties Belarusians face regarding legal status and banking access, though she noted the process is slow. She acknowledged that Poland faces its own internal challenges and is managing the needs of both Ukrainian and Belarusian populations.
Impact of passport renewal restrictions
In September 2023, Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree ending the renewal of Belarusian passports at foreign embassies and consulates, forcing citizens to return to Belarus for documentation. This policy poses risks for those who fear criminal prosecution upon returning home. In response to these difficulties, some nations, such as Spain, have begun recognizing expired Belarusian passports.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Meduza (English).
