TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The US State Department has advised US citizens not to travel to Belarus without urgency. US citizens already in Belarus are advised to leave immediately.
Washington imposed sanctions on Minsk in 2020 for alleged violations that resulted in the temporary closure of the US Embassy and Consulates in Belarus after the Ukrainian war erupted.
“US citizens in Belarus should leave the country immediately,” reads the US State Department’s travel advisory, which immediately caught the public’s attention on Monday, December 23, 2024, even though the travel advisory was dated December 18, 2024.
The US State Department urges US citizens not to travel to Belarus unless absolutely necessary due to the risk of alleged arbitrary law enforcement by local authorities and the risk of detention and potential unrest.
Washington also cited increased volatility and an unpredictable security environment, including Minsk’s assistance to Moscow in the Ukrainian war.
“Reconsider bringing electronic items into Belarus. US citizens should assume that all communications within Belarus are being monitored by the country’s security services. Individuals have been detained based on information found on their mobile phones or computers that was created or sent from another country,” the State Department travel advisory said.
US citizens who must travel to Belarus should avoid using social media and log out of their accounts. The State Department also advised US citizens not to approach protests in Belarus as they could face detention and be denied diplomatic assistance.
Source: RT.com
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