Lukashenka fighting with 'Pole's Card' for 14 years and losing

"A fresh example is an adoption by the Polish Sejm of the law "On the Pole's Card." As I am often warned, it may cause tangible harm to our state. I must say, it won't!" he threatened at the time.

The topic was important for the politician that he returned to it a few days later.

"Belarus should develop specific measures to counteract the Polish plan with the "Pole's Card." [...] After all, they (the European Union) understand what the Poles want, who are trying to split the Polish population living in Belarus by creating certain advantages for some part of it. Is this a normal policy, a normal position? Absolutely abnormal," he said during a visit to Vitsebsk.

Then he demanded to "stop whining" and develop "appropriate measures to counteract these steps and nullify this plot."

The authorities promised measures and went silent. The "Pole's Card" was not mentioned at the highest level until 2011. By coincidence, 2009-2010 was another "thaw" in Europe, including Poland, whose Foreign Minister came to Minsk just before the presidential election. The thaw ended as usual: after the rigged elections and violent crackdown on December 19, 2010, relations returned to normal. At the beginning of 2011, the European Union impose sanctions against Belarus for repressions and undemocratic elections. Then Lukashenka decided to deal with the "Pole's card" once again.  

Officials not allowed to get the card, but nobody can check it

Since the relations with Europe were bad again, fighting with the "Pole's Card" was possible. In autumn 2011, Lukashenka said that "our Poles want to live in Belarus," although Poland allegedly "pushes" them to move.

A couple of months later, in February 2012, the Constitutional Court was involved in the topic of the "Pole's Card."