Representative of the Democratic Embassy of Belarus in Cyprus, Alesia Parkhomenka, held a working meeting with Harris Georgiades, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs of the Parliament of Cyprus.
The central topic of discussion was the passport issue affecting Belarusians residing in Cyprus and its impact on the legal status of the diaspora. The parties reviewed the key aspects of the situation that arose following the restrictions introduced in 2023 by the Lukashenka regime, which deprived citizens of the possibility to apply for or renew national passports outside Belarus.
Particular attention was given to the situation of families with children born in Cyprus, as well as to the challenges faced by Belarusians due to expired passports and the current temporary mechanism regulating their status. At present, Belarusian citizens with expired passports may apply for an extension of their residence permits; however, their applications remain in pending status until a permanent solution is established. While this allows individuals to maintain legal residence in the country, it does not provide full confirmation of legal status and significantly limits everyday opportunities.
The parties discussed possible directions for further cooperation and options for a systemic resolution of the issue, including the issuance of alien travel documents as one of the potential instruments.
In addition, the representative of the initiative held consultations with the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus to exchange information and explore possible international approaches to addressing the situation.
The Belarusian diaspora in Cyprus expressed its appreciation to Mr. Georgiades for his attentive consideration of the issues raised, openness to constructive dialogue, and willingness to continue cooperation in the search for practical solutions.