What does a person feel when, after months or years in prison, they learn that they are going to be released? Hope of seeing their loved ones, of returning home, of once again deciding for themselves how to live. But what if, instead of going home, they are forcibly taken out of the country — without a passport and without even the chance to say goodbye to their family?
“The Exiled” is an analytical review of the pardoning and forced expulsion of political prisoners from Belarus, and of the legal and human consequences of a release that does not always restore a person’s freedom of choice. It covers developments from 2022 to 2026, from the first individual pardons to mass releases and expulsions from the country.
Does persecution end at the prison gates? The cases presented in this review show that it does not always. After being pardoned, people face new criminal cases, restrictions, confiscation of property and the annulment of their passports. For those expelled, the consequences of imprisonment are compounded by the need to rebuild their lives in another country — restoring their documents, finding support and coping with separation from their loved ones.
Can a person’s rights be considered restored if they are no longer behind bars but still cannot safely return home? This question runs throughout the review. The authors examine the pardon mechanism in Belarus, document ongoing persecution and assess forced expulsion against international human rights standards.
Every release matters enormously. But behind the numbers of those pardoned, it is important to see what happens to each person afterwards — and to recognise their right to safety, family, home and a life free from the fear of renewed persecution in their own country.
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