Moscow, 23 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Belarusians who wish to live permanently in another country must submit an application to the migration authority in Minsk, according to a government decree published on Thursday.

The office will then decide on the case within 35 days on the basis of available information on tax debts, compulsory military service and previous convictions.

Previously, citizens only had to inform the Belarusian consulate in a country about a residence permit obtained there.

The authoritarian ex-Soviet republic has been stepping up pressure on those living abroad. Recently, citizens were told their passports could only be issued in Belarus - not abroad.

This means that Belarusians will have to return to their own country at least once every 10 years to renew their documents.

The number of Belarusians leaving abroad is thought to be around 1.5 million. Some of them have fled the repression of ruler Alexander Lukashenko. The population of Belarus is a little over 9 million.

The number of political refugees from Belarus in Europe has risen significantly, especially after the disputed 2020 presidential election, in which Lukashenko clung to power and ordered the police and judiciary to brutally crack down on protesters.

Photo: MIA archive