In early March, it was reported that the Belarusian authorities were considering “a possibility of restrictions to leave the country for persons who had directly called for imposition of sanctions on Belarus”. Allegedly, a “preliminary list containing 108 names” had been compiled. This was perceived to be the regime’s reaction to the expansion of the EU list of Belarusian officials restricted from travelling to the EU.

The Belarusian authorities did not officially confirm the existence of their own “travel blacklist”. Nevertheless, a number of Belarusian public figures have recently encountered problems while crossing the Belarusian border.

For instance, on 11 March, deputy chairman of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich (left) was unable to leave Belarus. At the Belarusian-Lithuanian border checkpoint Kamenny Loh, border guards informed him that he was denied the right to leave the county and that his name was listed in the database of citizens restricted from travelling abroad.

The border guards did not specify the reason why Valiantsin Stefanovich had been denied the right to travel and advised him to contact the Department of Citizenship and Migration.

The human rights defender is convinced that there is no legitimate reason for Belarusian law enforcement agencies to limit his freedom of movement – for he has paid off the fine that he had been sentenced to for allegedly concealing the income from his human rights activities.

On 7 March, Belarusian border guards did not allow Anatol Liabedzka, the leader of the United Civil Party, to go to Lithuania. Sviatlana Liabedzka, the wife of the politician, also encountered problems at the border while returning from Lithuania – she was kept for several hours at the border for no reason.

On 10 March, Kamenny Loh border guards detained Viktar Karniayenka, a civic activist, and Siarhei Kaliakin, leader of the Just World Party, and did not allow them to go to Lithuania under the pretext of them being prohibited from leaving Belarus.

The return to Belarus was also problematic for ex-political prisoner Mikita Likhavid and his mother Alena. They were detained at the border for six hours and their car was searched.

Officials do not know about the “blacklist”

Aliaksei Biahun, head of the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said that he was unaware of the “blacklist” of opposition members restricted from travelling abroad.

“I do not know who stamped their passports and who didn’t let them cross the border. We do not have the relevant information on the subject. At least for these facts, we do not have any information”, Biahun said.

According to Biahun, it is of no use to enquire at the Department about this issue; one should better ask those who have made the decision to limit the right of politicians and human rights defenders to travel. However, Biahun was unable to advise where exactly one should enquire.

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