The US State Department has called on its citizens to leave Belarus: there are risks of detentions and unrest

The US State Department has called on its citizens to leave Belarus: there is a risk of detentions and unrest Darya Smorodskaya

U.S. citizens are urged not to visit Belarus due to instability in its politics and continued support for Russia's war against Ukraine. Americans are also asked not to attend any demonstrations.

The State Department advises citizens already in Belarus to leave the country. This was reported by 24 Channel with reference to the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Warning for U.S. citizens

It is noted that there is a risk of potential civil unrest in Belarus. The country also limits representatives of the US Embassy in assisting people who live or travel to Belarus. Given this, the US State Department warned its citizens of the danger and urges them to leave Belarus immediately.

Since February 28, 2022, Minsk has suspended the provision of all consular services to US citizens. Therefore, to receive any consular support, it is better for Americans to contact embassies in other countries.

The Belarusian authorities may refuse to recognize dual US-Belarusian citizenship of the United States, and may also refuse or delay US consular assistance to detained citizens with dual citizenship, the report says.

For what “violations” can foreigners be arrested in Belarus

Foreigners can be arrested or detained in Belarus if the authorities suspect them of participating in demonstrations.

Worth noting! Tens of thousands of people, including US citizens, have already been detained in Belarus for alleged involvement in the opposition and participation in political demonstrations, even if there is evidence that this affiliation took place outside of Belarus.

According to the State Department, thousands of foreigners have been sent to pretrial detention centers in Belarus. The government has denied them access to its embassy and lawyers, prohibited them from communicating with their families outside of prisons, and restricted access to information. Among those arrested were US citizens who were simply passing by the demonstrations. Some foreigners were victims of persecution or mistreatment by Belarusian officials.

Belarus can arrest a US citizen simply from an airplane if it turns out that he or she has allegedly violated a particular law. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a NOTAM prohibiting US air carriers, commercial operators, and US pilots from flying at any altitude in the Minsk Flight Information Region (UMMV), subject to limited exceptions.

Recall that earlier, the chairperson of the Joint Transitional Cabinet of Belarus Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said that Alexander Lukashenko had intensified terror before the elections in the country. There are known cases when he uses political prisoners as hostages, holding them in inhumane conditions without medical care.