Eighty-three former political prisoners, released in December by the Belarusian authorities, have submitted applications for international protection in Poland, Pavel Latushka, deputy head of the Belarusian opposition United Transitional Cabinet, reported on X on Wednesday.
“Since December 19, all 83 released political prisoners who decided to remain in Poland have applied for international protection,” Latushka wrote on X.
The opposition politician thanked Poland’s ministries of the interior and foreign affairs, as well as the Polish Border Guard and the Office for Foreigners, for their solidarity and effective assistance to deported Belarusians.
“Poland has once again proven that it is a true friend of Belarus,” he stressed.
Radio Svaboda, citing the press office of the ZGP, reported that the former political prisoners submitted their applications for legal protection in Warsaw, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Białystok.
“The Polish Border Guard has expressed its readiness to accept documents also at weekends (…) until the beginning of the holiday period, in order to contribute as much as possible to speeding up the procedure for legalising (residence) in Poland,” Radio Svaboda emphasised.
On December 13, the Belarusian authorities released 123 political prisoners on the condition that they leave Belarus. Among them were, among others, Polish citizen Roman Gałuza, Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kalesnikava, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Viktaravich Bialiatski.
The release took place thanks to an agreement with the United States. Earlier, Belarusian media reported that the United States would lift sanctions on potash from Belarus. Potash is a key component of fertilisers, and Belarus is one of its leading producers.