US Department of State announces suspending operations at US Embassy in Minsk

February 28, BPN. The US Department of State has suspended operations at the US Embassy in Minsk, authorizing the voluntary departure of the embassy staff and their family members in Moscow, the press statement of the Department of State says.

“We took these steps due to security and safety issues stemming from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine,” the statement notes.

As of February 15, the consular section of the US Embassy in Belarus has suspended all visa services except for emergency American Citizens Services (ACS).

The decision was made “as a result of critical staffing shortages due to the Belarusian authorities’ forced reduction of US Embassy Minsk’s workforce.”

On February 14, the US Department of State once again recommended that American citizens refrain from visiting Belarus. The official travel advisory stated that Americans should avoid travel due to “the arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of detention, unusual and concerning Russian military buildup along Belarus’ border with Ukraine, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions.”

On January 31, the Department of State ordered the departure of family members of US government employees from Belarus. US citizens were also advised not to visit Belarus.

In August 2021, Belarusian authorities ordered the US Embassy to reduce its staff to five people. Belarus also withdrew its consent to the appointment of Julie Fischer as US Ambassador to Belarus. Belarusian Foreign Ministry demanded to dismiss the local embassy staff.