Today, August 21st, the United States Embassy in Belarus has issued a warning against Americans traveling to that country and has also warned U.S. citizens to depart Belarus immediately.

Location:  Belarus

Event:  The Lithuanian government on August 18 closed two border crossings with Belarus at Tverecius / Vidzy and Sumskas / Losha.  The four border crossings at Lavoriskes / Kotlova, Medininkai / Kamenny, Raigardas / Privalka, and Salcininkai / Beniakoni are currently open.  The Polish, Lithuanian, and Latvian governments have stated that further closures of border crossings with Belarus are possible.

Actions to take:

• Do not travel to Belarus due to Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.
• U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately.  Consider departing via the remaining border crossings with Lithuania and Latvia, or by plane.  U.S. citizens are not permitted to enter Poland overland from Belarus.  Do not travel to Russia or to Ukraine.

Last April, a similar warning against Belarus was issued.

April 12, 2023

Reissued after periodic review with updates to risk indicators, information on border crossings, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus, and the “If you decide to travel” section.

Do not travel to Belarus due to the Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus. U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately.

On February 28, 2022, the Department of State ordered the departure of U.S. government employees and the suspension of operations of the U.S. Embassy in Minsk. All consular services, routine and emergency, are suspended until further notice. U.S. citizens in Belarus who require consular services should try to leave the country as soon as possible and contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in another country.

Belarus is an ally of Russia and has been since declaring independence from the former Soviet Union in 1990. Russia used Belarus as a springboard from which to launch its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Tensions began to increase again earlier this month, as Belarus began conducting military exercises near its borders with Lithuania and Poland.

On August 18th, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Belarus would be willing to use nuclear weapons against "foreign aggression." Last June, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed to have provided nuclear warheads to Belarus for "deterrence." 

The current State Department Travel Advisory for Belarus states in part:

Do not travel to Belarus due to the Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus. U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately.

This is a warning that should be taken seriously. Belarus is a known Russian ally, has provided aid for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and at the moment all consular and embassy services, both routine and emergency, have been suspended. U.S. citizens in Belarus after today may have to proceed to the U.S. Embassy in a neighboring country to access those services.

RedState will continue to monitor this situation and keep you updated.