The Biden administration issued a statement on Monday urging Americans living in Belarus to leave the country immediately and warning them not to travel to Belarus.
In a warning, the State Department called on Americans still
in Belarus to leave the country immediately, classifying the country as a Level
4 threat, the highest level of danger.
Belarus's longtime leader, known as Europe's last dictator,
Alexander Lukashenko, was the chief arbiter of Russian President Vladimir
Putin's war on Ukraine, and his rights to the Belarusians who challenged their
claims. It is on the US sanctions list for violations and political repression.
to elections. Winning 2020.
The US mission to Belarus has been scaled back and is only
responsible for emergency services for US citizens.
Mr Lukashenko's philanthropy to Wagner's forces in a deal
with President Putin that ended a short-lived mercenary mob rebellion against
the Kremlin has alarmed NATO members near the border.
"Because of Russia's gratuitous attack on Ukraine, the
buildup of Russian forces in Belarus, the arbitrary application of local laws,
the potential for civil unrest, the danger of arrest, and the continued
cooperation of the Belarusian authorities with Russia, Belarus U.S. aid options
are limited. Citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus," the State
Department warning reads.
Lithuania closed two of its six border crossings with
Belarus last week. The State Department has warned that the governments of
Poland, Lithuania and Latvia may close further border crossings with Belarus
and called on Americans to pass through the remaining open border crossings.
Poland has one border crossing, Belarus has one, while
Latvia has two.
Poland and Latvia have increased their forces on their
borders with Belarus. They also accused Lukashenka of arming migrants from the
Middle East and bringing them to Belarus to cross the border.
Comments
Post a Comment