Poland sharply reduced the granting of international protection to Belarusians. In June, rejections doubled positive decisions
Poland has sharply reduced the granting of international protection to Belarusians, according to an analysis of statistics from the Office for Foreigners, writes the publication Most.
In June, 21 decisions were made to grant Belarusians refugee status, and another four for supplementary protection. At the same time, negative decisions were made on 52 applications, and the review of another 13 cases was suspended.
Thus, in June, the share of rejections in the total number of reviewed cases reached 57.8%, which is an unprecedented figure. For comparison: in January-May 2026, the share of negative decisions was only 4.4%, in 2025 it was 5.5%, and in 2024 — 5.4%.
The situation began to change sharply already in May. While for the first four months of 2026, Belarusians were collectively denied protection in only 14 cases, in May alone, 17 negative decisions were made.
Earlier, human rights activists had already drawn attention to some negative decisions of the Office for Foreigners. The reasoning for the rejections indicated that the agency had changed its approach to assessing the situation in Belarus. In particular, one decision stated that the statute of limitations for the "protest" article 342 had already expired, and according to data from the Viasna Human Rights Centre, no cases of individuals being convicted for participating in protests were recorded in January-February 2026.
In addition, the Office for Foreigners noted that from June 2024 to early April 2026, Lukashenka signed six pardon decrees, under which at least 227 political prisoners were released. And in 2025, at least 360 political prisoners were released — "in particular, thanks to the diplomatic efforts of third states, including the USA."
The agency denied international protection to the Belarusian whose case was cited as an example, because it considered that he did not play a significant role in the protests that could attract increased attention from the Belarusian authorities. Additionally, the decision emphasized that he had not been previously detained for protests, arrested, or convicted, although he only left Belarus in December 2022. And after 2020, he was not involved in activities that the Belarusian authorities could consider oppositional or extremist.
During a recent meeting between representatives of democratic forces and the head of the Office for Foreigners, Tomasz Cytrynowicz, Belarusian participants noted that the expiration of statutes of limitations does not improve the legal status of Belarusians, but, on the contrary, worsens it. In the Belarusian situation, the expiration of statutes of limitations does not mean the cessation of criminal prosecution: security forces simply reclassify such cases under more severe articles, which provide for longer prison terms.
While waiting for a decision on an international protection case, an applicant cannot apply for legalization on another basis, even if they have one (for example, work, study, family reunification with a spouse). Meanwhile, case processing times have recently been delayed. Therefore, it may happen that during the waiting period, the validity terms of other documents (visas or residence permits) that confirm the legality of stay in Poland, if they existed, expire.
Thus, a refusal of international protection (if not appealed in time) calls into question the legality of staying in Poland and generally in the EU. This may force some Belarusians, who face danger in their homeland, to return, despite the risks.
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