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Statement by a Human Rights Coalition on the Arbitrary Invalidation of Passports of Citizens of the Republic of Belarus
In light of emerging reports that the authorities have arbitrarily declared invalid the passports of former political prisoners who were forcibly expelled from Belarus after their release in September and December 2025, we, a coalition of Belarusian human rights organizations, state the following:
The protection of its citizens is a fundamental function and duty of the state. Article 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus guarantees citizens the protection and patronage of the state both within Belarus and abroad. A passport is one of the manifestations of state sovereignty. It confirms the state’s guarantee of protection for its citizens both domestically and internationally.
