belarus executive summary - US Department of State

BELARUS 35
In practice the government provided protection against expulsion or return of
refugees to countries where their lives or freedom would be threatened on account
of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or
political opinion.
While all foreigners have the right to apply for asylum, no Russian nationals
received either refugee status or complementary protection in the country.
Immigration authorities and courts asserted that under the terms of treaties on the
union with Russia, and as a result of the equal rights of citizens in each country,
Russians can legally settle and obtain residence permits in the country based on
their Russian citizenship and therefore do not need asylum. Nevertheless, as of
October 1, immigration authorities accepted five asylum applications from Russian
citizens during the year.
Asylum seekers have freedom of movement within the country but must reside in
the region where they filed their applications for refugee status and in a place
known to the authorities. Authorities reportedly often required asylum seekers to
settle in rural areas. Change of residence was possible only with notification to
authorities. Authorities issue registered asylum seekers certificates that serve as
identification documents and protect them from expulsion. In accordance with the
law, they also must register with local authorities to obtain identity documents.
Temporary Protection: The government also provided temporary protection to
individuals who may not qualify as refugees and provided it to approximately six
persons during the year.
In accordance with asylum legislation, aside from refugee status there is also
complementary protection and “nonrefoulement protection” (in the form of
temporary residence for a one-year term). During the year one person applied for
extension of complementary protection (extension was granted); five persons were
able to extend nonrefoulement protection for one year.
Stateless Persons
As of January 1, the UNHCR listed 7,731 stateless persons in the country.
Arbitrary detention of, and violence against, stateless persons generally were not
problems. However, stateless persons faced discrimination in employment because
authorities often required them to settle in rural areas and prohibited them from
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011
United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor