Zdigitalizowano i udostępniono w ramach projektu pn. Rozbudowa otwartych zasobów naukowych Repozytorium Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku, dofinansowanego z programu „Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki” Ministra Edukacji i Nauki na podstawie umowy SONB/SP/512497/2021.The subject of the article are statements made by representatives of the Belarusian minority in the Bialystok region presented in the press published by this minority and regarding the results of the general census of 2011. The statements express concern for the state of the Belarusian identity and a number of members of the Belarusian minority. The statements reveal an
apparent division between the group of the Belarusian minority gathered in organizations and institutions established after 1989 and the group close to the Orthodox Church. With regard to the size of the Belarusian minority in Poland, the results of the census of 2011 reflect the phenomenon of natural ageing of its members and migration processes. Living in an alien environment, Belarusians migrating from the Bialystok region frequently do not admit their Belarusian identity roots any more fearing stigmatization and the "Alien's" label.12713