Metropolitan Kondrusiewicz not deprived of citizenship, Belarus authorities say


Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz and Metropolitan Pavel, former Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus. Photo – Siarhey Satsyuk / Belapan

The passport of the head of the Catholic Church in Belarus, Metropolitan Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, was declared invalid due to the verification of his belonging to Belarusian citizenship, but he is not deprived of Belarusian citizenship. Alyaksei Byahun, head of the Department for Citizenship and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, told TUT.BY.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus said that the passport of Metropolitan Kondrusiewicz was canceled “to avoid its unreasonable use”, in addition, reports on his foreign citizenship are being checked”.

The Holy See intervened in the case of Metropolitan Kondrusiewicz, who was not allowed by the Belarusian authorities to return to Belarus and had his passport canceled, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin confirmed on September 14, 2020. The head of the Vatican diplomacy added that this was also facilitated by the visit of the Secretary for Relations of the Holy See with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher to Minsk.

On August 31, Metropolitan Kondrusiewicz was not allowed into Belarus without explanation when he was returning from a business trip to Poland. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz is a native of Belarus, has Belarusian citizenship.

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