On July 4, 2025, the think tank “Europe without Barriers” conducted an expert focus group within the international project DignityFIRM, dedicated to discussing challenges faced by Belarusian citizens residing in Ukraine after fleeing persecution by the Lukashenka regime.
Since Lukashenka’s political regime became complicit in Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, bilateral relations between the two states have sharply declined. This situation has complicated the legalization procedures for Belarusian citizens in Ukraine, resulting in issues such as blocked bank accounts and lack of access to legal employment.
These unresolved systemic problems have forced many Belarusians to leave Ukraine or lose their legal status, leaving them without access to proper social support.
Human rights defenders, lawyers, civil society representatives, and officials from the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights participated in the discussion. They shared updated information on the current situation, highlighted steps already taken, and outlined further actions needed to address these problems.
Experts emphasized the crucial role of human rights organizations in protecting the rights of Belarusian citizens in Ukraine. While noting some progress concerning the provision of temporary protection and unblocking bank accounts, they acknowledged that control by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies will persist until the end of martial law in Ukraine.
