MINSK, 6 September (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko hosted a meeting to discuss amendments to the citizenship legislation and amnesty on 6 September, BelTA has learned.
“I have invited you to discuss important issues that have resonated with our society. This is the improvement of the citizenship legislation and the holding of an amnesty,” the head of state said.
According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the topic of citizenship remains in the focus in Belarus for two important reasons. “On the one hand, we have to take care of the security of our state. On the other hand, decent and hardworking citizens are the most important asset of our country. Those who sincerely want to become citizens of our country and to contribute to its development are always welcome on Belarusian soil,” the president said.
Over the past five years, about 14,000 people have received Belarusian citizenship on various grounds. At the same time, each citizenship application is closely studied, the head of state emphasized. Issues requiring a decision by the president are preliminarily considered by a special commission.
Citizenship applications are filed by people from all kinds of states, primarily from the post-Soviet space, as well as by people from Asia, Europe and even America.
“Last August, I asked to speed up the process of granting citizenships to Ukrainians. It was done for obvious reasons. In general, these are our people. They have made Belarus their home - they observe the laws, raise children, have jobs here, work well in agriculture, education, medicine and even science. Belarusian passports have already been issued to about 5,000 Ukrainians within a year,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
