Border joke

We know several people from Belarus, and they have a great sense of humor—similar to the humor you’d find in the north of the Netherlands: direct and sharp. The situation in the country isn’t fantastic, which has led many to seek a new life elsewhere, looking for work in another country with the necessary visa and all that comes with it.

A few years ago, during a protest against the government, the Secret Service photographed everyone who attended or was near the protests. These people are still being identified and tracked down. The issue is that not everyone in the area was actively participating in the protest. And even if they were—shouldn’t protesting be allowed? For instance, if you were on a bus heading to work, and it happened to pass by the protest square, you’d still be photographed. Does that make you an activist? You decide.

A year ago, a new law was introduced stating that if your passport expires, you must apply for a new one in the country itself. Previously, this could still be done at an embassy, but not anymore. This change gives the government the ability to stop individuals at the border from leaving the country if they’ve been identified from the photos. (Keep in mind: waiting times at the border with a bus are up to 30 hours—imagine how long it takes with your own vehicle…)

The dark humor we often hear from them goes like this:
“I’m going back home for five days to get a new passport. Let’s hope it’s only five days and not five years… 🙂 “
And then they, smile, shrug and change the subject.

It says a lot about the reality of their situation. And the fact that we rarely, if ever, hear about it in the news?
Well, draw your own conclusions. And if you can, please keep these people in your prayers—they truly need it.