At least 125 Belarusian citizens have been detained this year upon returning to the country from abroad after their phones were checked.
Such an announcement has been made by Radio Free Europe, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
They are accused of disseminating extremist materials. The majority of those detained are subject to administrative charges.
Citizens of Belarus are most often detained at the border when coming from Lithuania, however, checks and detentions take place at all border crossings in Belarus, taking also into account the border with Russia.
According to RFE/RL, following the regulations implemented by authorities in Belarus in September this year, citizens of Belarus are no longer eligible to exchange or extend the validity of their passports at embassies and consulates abroad.
They are only eligible to do so in Belarus. In addition, they must return to their homeland if they wish to conduct transactions that involve vehicles or real estate.
Human right advocates in Belarus believe that these actions are intended to attract citizens who oppose the Lukasheno government and are compelled to leave the country following the risk of facing criminal charges.
Authorities in Lithuania previously announced that they would issue the so-called “foreigner passport” to Belarusians living there. The measure applies to Belarusians who have been subjected to repression in their homeland and are ineligible to return to obtain a new document.
At present, nearly 1,000 persons included in this category are in Lithuania. In November this year, authorities in Belarus announced that those planning to move to other countries for permanent residence will be required to hold special permission from the migration office in their place of residence.
In September this year,authorities in Lithuania confirmed that emigrants in Vilnius who weren’t allowed to get new passports by Belarus will be eligible to receive Lithuanian travel documents.
Such a passport would be issued to Belarusians residing legally in Lithuania but do not have a passport or corresponding travel documents according to Lithuania’s Interior Ministry.
It means that they are eligible to leave and enter Vilnius without being subject to obstacles.
A foreigner’s passport is valid for more than one year but perhaps that term could be longer if the parliament would extend it.
Migration Department Director Evelina Gudzinskaite said that she expects that a larger number of Belarusians would apply for “foreigners’ passports” as a result of strict measures applied by Minsk.