UK warns citizens against traveling to Belarus

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Britain on Friday asked its citizens to avoid traveling to some of the main cities in Belarus.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it advises “against all travel to Yelsk, Mazyr, Rechitsa, Luninets, Gomel, Asipovichy, Baranovichi, and Brest.”

In its travel advice update, it also warned British citizens “against all but essential travel to the remainder of Belarus.”

The advice read: “Since January 2022, the build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine’s borders, including within Belarus, has increased the threat of military action.

“In the event of military action taking place, our ability to offer consular assistance will be limited.”
The warning came as the tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border are still running high because of the Russian military buildup.

Russian and Belarusian armies also hold joint military exercises within Belarus, which shares a border with Ukraine.

Western countries have accused Russia of amassing more than 100,000 troops near Ukraine, prompting fears that it could be planning a military offensive against its ex-Soviet neighbor.

Russia has denied it is preparing to invade and accused Western countries of undermining its security by NATO’s expansion towards its borders.