A member of the Lithuanian Rifles’ Union and Border Guard officers patrol along the Belarusian border in Kaniukai, Lithuania, in July 2023. Photo/Janis Laizans/REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Every citizen of the United States (US) in Belarus must leave immediately, according to a warning from the US Department of State (Deplu) on Monday (21/8/2023).
The US warning cited Lithuania’s recent closure of border crossings and the possibility of more to come.
“The Lithuanian government on August 18 closed two border crossings with Belarus at Tverecius/Vidzy and Sumskas/Losha,” the State Department said.
“The governments of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have indicated that further closure of border crossings with Belarus is possible,” the warning said.
“US citizens in Belarus must depart immediately,” the State Department said.
Americans were urged to travel by land using remaining border crossings with Lithuania and Latvia, as Poland had closed borders, or by plane, though not to Russia or Ukraine.
The Ukraine-Belarus border has also been closed. Meanwhile, most Western airlines have grounded flights to Minsk and closed their airspace to Belarusian and Russian flights, making it unclear how Americans can fly without passing through Russia.
Washington has urged its citizens not to travel to Belarus for years, first because of the Covid-19 pandemic, then the 2020 riots after a presidential election that the US claims was rigged or stolen.
2023-08-22 11:45:17
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