Фото: ОПК
Poland may extend the validity of travel documents issued to foreigners from one year to two years. The process of amending the relevant legislation has already begun. This was announced at a meeting between Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Latushka and Tomasz Cytrynowicz, head of Poland’s Office for Foreigners, the United Transitional Cabinet reported.
The Polish side also noted that the legislative changes would allow travel documents to be recognised as identity documents. Work is also underway to shorten the time required to issue them.
The meeting at the Office for Foreigners also addressed the issue of granting international protection to ten former political prisoners who were released in September and transferred from Lithuania to Poland. The Polish side pledged to complete the necessary procedures as quickly as possible.
In addition, the parties discussed the timeframes for issuing decisions on applications for international protection submitted by Belarusians in Poland, as well as specific complex cases involving legalisation of residence.
They also discussed issues related to the possible deportation of Belarusians whose applications for international protection have been rejected. This matter is also expected to be discussed further at the General Headquarters of the Polish Border Guard.
Pavel Latushka briefed the Polish side on the ongoing repression in Belarus, stressing that this should be taken into account when deciding whether to grant protection to Belarusian citizens. Cytrynowicz noted that each case is considered individually, taking into account possible threats of persecution.
The meeting was also attended by United Transitional Cabinet representative for social policy Veranika Stankevich, lawyer with the People’s Anti-Crisis Management and delegate to the Coordination Council Mikhail Kirylyuk, and advocacy specialist at the Belarusian Solidarity Centre Volha Dabravolskaya.