Former political prisoner Natallia Padleuskaya, expelled from Poland, received asylum in Lithuania
Natallia sought international protection in Poland, where her relatives live.
Photo: Belsat
Former political prisoner Natallia Padleuskaya told "Belsat" that on April 27 she learned about receiving asylum and a residence permit in Lithuania, where Poland transferred the Belarusian woman in the autumn of 2025 under the Dublin Agreement.
Natallia submitted a request for international protection in Lithuania in early November 2025 — this was necessary to legally reside in the country. By the end of April 2026, the application was approved, and the Belarusian woman received asylum.
"I am sharing wonderful news with you: I have been granted asylum and a long-term residence permit. In a week, I will receive my card and my passport will be returned to me. Thank you to everyone who helped me and was around me during these difficult months," Natallia said in a comment to "Belsat".
The former political prisoner is delighted with this decision by Lithuania, but would still like to have the opportunity to return to Poland.
Natallia Padleuskaya sought international protection in Poland, where her relatives live. However, since the woman entered Poland with a Lithuanian visa, the Dublin Regulation was applied to her, which gives an EU country the right to transfer an applicant to the state that issued the visa or was the first country of entry.
Natallia appealed the decision to transfer her to Lithuania, but even before the court hearing in this case, Polish border guards transferred the Belarusian woman to Lithuania on October 23.
The former political prisoner recounted that she was transported in handcuffs, like a criminal.
Natallia was not allowed to attend the court hearing regarding her appeal against the decision to transfer her to Lithuania, which took place on October 24. The Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw overturned the decision and ruled that the Belarusian woman's request for international protection should be re-examined in Poland. However, Padleuskaya was already in Lithuania at that moment.
After the decision of the Voivodeship Court in Natallia's case came into force, the Polish Office for Foreigners was obliged to re-examine the Belarusian woman's application for international protection. However, according to the former political prisoner, she has still not received any information from the Polish side. The woman is concerned that now, after Lithuania has granted her asylum, Poland will automatically refuse.
Natallia Padleuskaya was detained in Belarus on November 3, 2021. She was accused of insulting a government official (Art. 369 of the Criminal Code of Belarus) and insulting Aliaksandr Lukashenka (Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Belarus) and was sentenced to 1 year of imprisonment in a general regime colony and a fine of 100 basic units.
On July 4, 2022, Natallia was released after serving her term. After some time, pressure on the woman resumed, and she decided to leave Belarus. She was evacuated to Lithuania, which became the first EU country to issue her a visa.
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