Belarus reduces the number of American diplomats and complicates the issuance of visas for US citizens

Belarus imposed sanctions against the United States. According to the press secretary of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Anatoly Glaz, this is a response to the fact that earlier the United States and a number of other countries imposed sanctions against Belarus. Writes about it New Paper.

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Among the restrictions - “reduction of diplomatic and administrative-technical personnel of the American diplomatic mission, toughening of visa procedures, limitation of the work of American specialists in Belarus on a temporary basis. The decision to work in Belarus of the US Agency for International Development [USAID] was also withdrawn. ”

Many projects are being implemented in Belarus with the help of the agency. In particular, USAID provided financial assistance to the country in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many Western countries in connection with what is happening have recommended their airlines not to fly over Belarus. A number of states have banned flights of the Belarusian airline Belavia.

On the subject: Russia refused to let planes flying around Belarus from Europe: flights had to be canceled

The United States has received information about new restrictions on the number of employees of the Embassy, ​​confirmed the spokesman for the US Department of State Ned Price. The changes come into force on June 13, writes Voice of America.

The speaker added that the US Ambassador to Belarus Julie Fisher, who could not start her work in the country due to the lack of permission from the local authorities, will continue to work outside Belarus: she will “communicate with leaders of the democratic movement, journalists, students and members of civil society Belarus, as well as allies ”in support of a free, independent and democratic Belarus.

Price expressed disappointment with the state of relations between the two countries. “Unfortunately, the Belarusian authorities have brought our relations to this point through ruthless and escalating repression against their citizens, which has reached its climax. Of course we saw it: the forced diversion of a Ryanair plane, as well as the arrest of a Belarusian journalist and his girlfriend who were on that plane,” Price added.

“We know that a sovereign, independent Belarus that respects the democratic aspirations of its citizens and their human rights, as well as the country’s international obligations, is not only in their interests, it is in our interests too,” Price said.

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US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recalled that in response to the intensification of repressions in Belarus, the United States resumed sanctions against nine state-owned enterprises in the country.

“Actions have consequences,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted. — As a result of the Lukashenko regime’s disregard for human rights, the United States revoked permission for business transactions with 9 state-owned companies in Belarus. The escalation of repressive actions will not go unanswered.”

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• On May 23, the regime of the dictator of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, using a fighter jet, forced the Ryanair plane to land in Minsk... The KGB officers removed the co-founder of the opposition Telegram channel NEXTA Roman Protasevich from his board. He faces a maximum prison term, although he himself does not rule out execution.
• The Ambassador of Latvia to Belarus was offered leave the country within XNUMX hours.
• Aviation Department published transcript of the negotiations between the Ryanair pilot and the dispatcher of the Minsk airport... Many countries have established an air blockade of Belarus.
• Who is Roman Protasevich, for whose arrest Belarus intercepted the plane, read in our material.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Russia refused to let planes flying around Belarus from Europe: flights had to be canceled

Americans and post-Soviet countries: where the State Department does not advise US citizens to go

Belarusians in the USA write to congressmen about the situation at home: how it can help

How salaries at McDonald's in the United States compare with the incomes of residents of post-Soviet countries

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