US reissues advisory urging citizens to “depart immediately” from Belarus

April 13, BPN. The US State Department updated risk indicators for Belarus in its travel advisory on April 12 and urged US citizens to “depart immediately” from Belarus.

It noted the limited ability to assist US citizens in Belarus and listed several reasons to avoid traveling to Belarus. These include Belarusian authorities’ continued support of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces, arbitrary enforcement of laws, the potential of civil unrest and the risk of arrest.

“Belarusian authorities have detained tens of thousands of individuals, including US citizens, for alleged affiliations with opposition parties and alleged participation in political demonstrations,” the Department of State noted.

Since late February 2022, the US Embassy in Minsk suspended its operations and US citizens can obtain consular assistance only outside Belarus, it stressed.

The travel advisory urging US citizens to avoid traveling to Belarus and to leave the country immediately was originally issued on February 14, 2022.