Lukashenko signs decree on commission for people wishing to return home

I have signed a decree to set up a commission to work with citizens who wish to return to their homeland, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Belarus' Prosecutor General Andrei Shved to receive his report on 6 February, BelTA has learned.

“Today I have signed a decree, prepared by a group of specialists headed by you, on the consideration of the applications from Belarusian citizens abroad regarding their possible violation of the law. This is exactly the issue we discussed the other day. I also looked at the composition [of the commission] and other things. If we did not include anything in the decree, the prosecutor general has enough power to engage the entire state apparatus, civil servants to solve the issue with those who left the country,” the head of state said.

“We should look not only at the so-called opposition in exile. There can be others. They understand very well that we will find them anyway. Someone will apply to the commission. You will sort everything out in the commission,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The commission also includes people who were among the victims of the committed offenses. The president supported this approach: “Then the public will understand that it is not Lukashenko, Shved and others in power who make decisions. Of course, we need to organize everything. But those who saw what was happening and had to tolerate violence or offenses committed against them should take an active part in the work of the commission, too. The decree has been signed. I only ask you to explain to people once again our every step in detail.”

In turn, Andrei Shved thanked the president for his support of the proposals included in the decree. “It was huge work done by all government bodies. The approaches were basically defined. As you said, no one should be dragged back here, and people should understand that they have some guarantees, as well,” the prosecutor general said.