US asks to expand embassy staff to hundreds, Łukašenka claims

December 29, Pozirk. The United States has been asking the Belarusian government for a permission to expand the staff of its embassy for “a whole year now,” Alaksandar Łukašenka told the Rossiya 1 television channel.
A video clip of his remarks was posted on Telegram by Pavel Zarubin, a reporter for the channel. The interview had taken place on December 26 during the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Russia’s Leningrad province.
According to Łukašenka, the US would like to station hundreds of people in Belarus.
Asked about a US recommendation for Americans to leave the country, he said: “We have practically no Americans . . . But we are not holding anyone in Belarus. Let them stay if they want to and let them go if they don’t. But there are 0.2 Americans.”
In early 2022, the US advised its citizens to leave Belarus due to escalating political and military tensions, particularly along the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. The State Department ordered the departure of American government employees’ families and, following the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, suspended US Embassy activities in Minsk. Many democratic countries have downgraded their diplomatic presence in Belarus since the 2020 unrest.

Łukašenka congratulates Trump on election victory
- Politics, SportRegional sports official chairs Football Federation of BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyEmergencies minister says chemical plant accident not dangerousThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRussia’s agro exports to Belarus surgeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk: EU fueling migration crisis instead of negotiating with BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyŁukašenka says pro-government trade unions are “most powerful parties”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsPolish interior minister blames Minsk for migrant crisis escalationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus’ top diplomat negotiating visa-free travel in ThailandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsVilnius demands explanations from Minsk over recent drone incursionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyAlarm prompts grid disconnection of Unit 2 at Belarus’ nuclear plantThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: foreigners travelling to Belarus face border interrogationsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsKGB brands Belarusians, Estonian as terroristsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPolish defense minister outraged at migrants’ attacks on border guardsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ median salary rises by 19 percent year on yearThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUN experts demand probe into Belarus prison deathsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus to slash pensions for people paid off booksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityWitnesses say drones chased, shot down in southern Belarus last weekThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, PoliticsAndrea Wiktorin completes her tenure as Germany charge d’affairesThe material is available only to POZIRK+