US decision to suspend operations at the embassy is an unnecessary escalation – Statement of the MFA

March 2, BPN. The decision to suspend operations at the US embassy in Minsk fits into the logic of unnecessary escalation, complicating communication between the two countries, said Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anatol Hlaz.

He stated that the Belarusian side was making “efforts to normalize the situation in Ukraine,” including by organizing Russian-Ukrainian peace talks, while the official Washington “continues to escalate the situation in the region and to replicate fakes to justify new sanctions measures against the Republic of Belarus.”

“The decision of the American side to suspend operations at the US Embassy in Minsk fits into the logic of unnecessary escalation for anyone now: amid statements on the need to de-escalate and to keep channels for dialogue open, these channels are in fact being closed in order to further complicate any communication, including on practical issues, such as security in the region,” Hlaz stressed.

He reminded the initiators of restrictive measures that “any sanctions attacks will not remain without an adequate response” and that this “will harm everyone.”

“An equal and respectful dialogue is the only key to easing tensions and achieving mutual understanding,” the MFA representative believes.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson also stressed that Belarus “has not taken, does not take and does not plan to take part in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.”

On February 28, the US Department of State suspended operations at the US Embassy in Minsk, authorizing the voluntary departure of the embassy staff and their family members in Moscow.

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

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.”