Start from scratch and find your place: how foreigners are building a new life in Belarus. Reporting by ONT

The capital of Belarus is its people. Those for whom our country is a homeland by birth, and those who chose it as an adult – and therefore consciously, assessing the advantages over other states.

Home where you are waiting: how people from different countries find their place in Belarus

The story of Gayane Saghatelyan began as an ordinary visit to her sister in Minsk – almost 20 years ago she came to Belarus to visit. Plans for life were quite different then: the family stayed in Yerevan, and no one thought that this trip would become a starting point for a new destiny. But when Gayane returned, she realized that this was where she wanted to live. Forever. In fact, I had to start from scratch. The first step into a new life was made by his son – he went to kindergarten, and after him, Gayane herself.

Today, she is a cook at kindergarten No. 468 in Minsk, and the appetite and mood of hundreds of children depend on her work. Gayane is a nurse after her first education: she graduated from college in Yerevan, but admits that it was not a matter of her heart.

In Soviet times, parents often decided who to be. And Belarus gave another chance - to do what you love, she says.

Her love for children led her first to work as an assistant teacher - about five or six years she created coziness and warmth for children.

“For me, creating warmth and comfort for children is a great happiness,” Gayane said. But her love of cooking eventually took over: she enrolled in a public cooking college, fulfilling her dream. She has been a chef for ten years, and every day is an opportunity to make someone’s day a little better.

“Belarus captivated me with its beauty and purity. And I felt a sense of security, security and peace of mind, Gayane recalls. Her personal dream is closely related to the future of her son: “The son after graduation wanted to go to the military academy, but because we do not have his citizenship ...” And the year of the Belarusian woman – I want to fulfill my most cherished dream: my son received citizenship. Because all conditions have been created in Belarus for honest work and a safe and secure life.”.

A small map of the world in one group

The staff of kindergarten No. 468 is a small map of the world: people from Russia, Turkmenistan and Armenia work here. Six people, three countries, and no conflict. Similarity of views and diligence unite, and the internationality of the team becomes a reflection of the peace-loving policy of the state, where they look not at the passport, but at the person himself.

Head of the kindergarten Galina Zakharchenya emphasizes: People responsible, conscientious, perform their official functions in full. We have no problems with them, we are very happy that they work in our team. They have equal rights like everyone else. There is also a distribution of the award regardless of nationality, participation in competitions, various events, teaching councils, subbotniks. They all participate equally in all activities of our pre-school education institution.”.

This approach makes not just a workplace, but a space where everyone feels needed and respected.

Stability, Technology and Human Attitude

Mahdi Jeddi Agabal’s journey to Belarus also began with an invitation: an acquaintance who had lived in the country for a long time called to see if he would like it.

He came from Iran 13 years ago, and one of the pragmatic reasons for choosing the country was a developed IT industry: there were more chances to find a job on a profile. A pass to opportunities was learning the language, and then a career: today Mahdi is the main programmer, he solves complex problems and is responsible for the results of projects, directing colleagues in the IT space.

But the decisive factor in staying and striving for citizenship was the attitude of the people.

At some point I decided that I wanted to feel like a Belarusian and live here calmly and in stability. So I decided to get Belarusian citizenship, he explains.

Mahdi highlights how friendly Belarus treats foreigners: Another reason why he stayed in Belarus is because very, very any people, they treat foreigners very well. That is, it is a little bit, perhaps even surprising, because, especially now, it is a little problematic around the world. Especially in Europe, it is getting worse and worse.”.

For Mahdi, the path to rightfully calling himself a Belarusian took many years, but the main result is not formal documents, but a sense of belonging and security.

Large Belarusian family: figures and meanings

Different stories, different roads, but they share a conscious choice. Home is not only where you were born, but where you are waiting, where you can work, develop and be confident in the future.

According to Ivan Novikov, head of the Department for Citizenship and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, this year 297 people became citizens of the republic, including 20 children. “Citizens of the Republic of Belarus came from Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Vietnam and China, as well as a number of other countries. The newly adopted citizens of the Republic of Belarus carry out labor activities in various spheres of the economy, such as agriculture, education, healthcare, services and trade, are workers of culture and art. There are also many mothers who raise three or more children, he said.

The decree signed by the President was a logical and conscious step for those who sincerely consider this land theirs. The oath of citizenship is an official word that opens the door to a large Belarusian family.

Work, values, future

Belarus remains a hospitable home for those who share its values and are ready to strengthen the country with their work and knowledge. The stories of Gayane and Mahdi are not about loud slogans, but about quiet, but very important decisions: go learn new things, create comfort for other people’s children, take responsibility for complex projects, seek citizenship not for profit, but for the sense of home.

It is from such personal choices that the overall picture is formed: a country that values work, respects the individual and gives a chance to start from scratch and build something real.

Read also:

1. 1.Rules for leaving Belarus in 2026: what documents are needed at the border
2. 2.Lukashenko signed a decree on the admission of citizenship of Belarus 297 people
3. 3.Visa-free travel to Belarus 2026: how many European tourists came over the summer and the rules of entry