Były więzień polityczny, dziennikarz i działacz Związku Polaków na Białorusi, Andrzej Poczobut, wraz z organizacją praw człowieka Amnesty International, zaapelował do Premiera Polski, Donalda Tuska, o zmianę zasad wydawania dokumentów podróży dla obywateli Białorusi.
The reason was the decision of the Belarusian authorities in 2023 to stop extending passports for citizens outside the country. For many Belarusians living in Poland, this has created serious problems: without a valid passport, there are difficulties with travel, document processing, and identity verification
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Połobut and Amnesty International propose to change the current system and make it more stable
Among the main requirements:
🔹 extend the validity of Polish travel documents for foreigners to a minimum of three years. Currently, many Belarusians are forced to regularly apply for document extensions;
🔹 establish the rules for issuing travel documents in law, rather than extending temporary decisions by orders from the Ministry of Internal Affairs every few months;
🔹 create a separate procedure for children of Belarusian citizens born in Poland, who face difficulties in obtaining documents due to the inability to acquire a Belarusian passport;
🔹 officially recognize the travel document as an identity document, so it can be used not only for crossing the border but also in everyday situations.
The authors of the letter believe that the current system leaves thousands of Belarusians in a state of uncertainty. In their opinion, Poland should provide people with the opportunity to live normally, work, and enjoy basic rights, even if they cannot obtain or renew their country's passport
Amnesty International has also launched a petition calling for support for the changes. You can sign it at this link
The problem concerns not only adults. Many children born in Poland to Belarusian parents also face difficulties: without a passport, it is hard for them to obtain documents confirming their identity and to apply for the necessary permits
Dla Białorusinów, którzy nie mogą odnowić swojego paszportu narodowego, polski dokument podróży staje się de facto jedynym sposobem na podróżowanie i załatwianie spraw administracyjnych. Jednak ze względu na krótki okres ważności, musi być regularnie przedłużany, co stwarza dodatkowe obciążenie biurokratyczne zarówno dla cudzoziemców, jak i polskich instytucji.
