The state can revoke the citizenship of people who are enemies, who fight against their home country, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he talked to residents of Belovezhsky agro-town in Kamenets District, Brest Oblast, BelTA has learned.

One of the residents of the agro-town noted that a law on citizenship that recently came into force in Belarus obliges citizens to report if they have foreign citizenship. There are norms that give grounds for revoking Belarusian citizenship. “What about the Pole's Card? Maybe it should be outlawed altogether and its holders have their rights restricted?" she asked the head of state.

"On the one hand, you are worried that someone may deprive you of citizenship. On the other hand, we need to take tough action against individual holders of the Pole's Card..." the Belarusian leader said.

"The state can revoke the citizenship of those people who are enemies who, living here or abroad, are working against our country. We had our share of this in the past. That's what the problem is about. We have not yet deprived anyone of citizenship. But they must understand that if they see us as their enemies and are fighting against our country, calling for sanctions (like opposition supporters do), then they will face retaliation. This is what this is about," the president said.

"As for the Pole's Card holders, well, we have clipped their wings a great deal. I feel that this problem is still here. We will revisit it," the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed the President Administration to look into this issue and suggest measures. "I don't want to hurt people either. For example I have many acquaintances in Grodno. Some of them hold public offices. But they have the Pole's Card too. I asked them, ‘Guys, how come?' ‘Aleksandr Grigorievich, don't worry. If necessary, we'll throw it away tomorrow.' Well, they say, everybody took this card out. So did we. After all, it did offer some advantages. Everyone took it out, they say, so did we. I don't want to undercut these people. Therefore, steps must be well thought out," the head of state explained.

"People should live freely on their land, in their society. They must have the opportunity to express their position, not to be afraid of anyone. Otherwise, why do we need such a state where people feel suppressed. Therefore, it is very important not to go too far," Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

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