The United States embassy in Minsk has asked its citizens to leave Belarus immediately, after the closure of two border crossings between this country and Lithuania, it was announced on Monday.
“US citizens in Belarus must leave immediately,” read the note posted on the website of the US diplomatic delegation in Belarus, an ally of Moscow.
Washington recalled that the Lithuanian government recently closed two border crossings with Belarus and only four other points remain open.
“The governments of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have declared that more border crossings with Belarus may be closed,” warned the US representation in Minsk.
Therefore, the embassy asked Americans to consider leaving Belarus through the open border crossings with Latvia, Lithuania, “or by plane.”
“US citizens are not allowed to enter Poland by land from Belarus. Do not travel to Russia or Ukraine,” the US Embassy in Minsk added.
The diplomatic representation also emphasized that currently its ability to provide assistance to Americans traveling or residing in Belarus “is limited.”
Vilnius announced last week the closure of two border crossings with Belarus in response to the presence of mercenaries from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner in the neighboring country.
Fighters from the Wagner group, which was active in the Ukrainian war, were transferred to Belarus after a brief rebellion against the Russian military hierarchy in June.
The closure of the two posts was also motivated by the fight against smuggling, since the other four steps are equipped with X-ray detection systems, unlike the ones now closed.
According to the Lithuanian ‘media’, the measure could be the first step towards the total closure of the border with Belarus.
Relations between the two countries have always been tense but have further deteriorated since Belarus’ disputed 2020 presidential election, which sparked demonstrations in Minsk that were violently suppressed by the Alexander Lukashenko regime.
Minsk officials described the decision made by the Lithuanian neighbor as implausible. Belarus supports Russia in the war against Ukraine that Moscow started with the invasion of the neighboring country on February 24, 2022.
Source: TSF
