When police in Belarus began knocking on doors and interrogating citizens suspected to have taken part in pro-democracy rallies and opposing the leader Alexander Lukashenko three years ago, thousands decided never to return. Over 100,000 people are thought to have left Belarus, many of whom fled to neighbouring Poland and the Baltic states. In September, Lukashenko blocked Belarusian embassies abroad from issuing passports outside the country, stripping Belarusians abroad from passports. "I think I only became aware that I had actually emigrated quite recently," says Inga Okava, who was imprisoned for independently monitoring the 2020 Belarus elections. "I had something called delayed life syndrome. It seems to you that you'll go back, so why bother? Why learn Polish, why work, why do anything else?" Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya announced the launch of the "New Belarus" passport for dissidents who are unable to return to Belarus and get an official document. She is still working to get it recognised. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES