US Urges Immediate Departure of Citizens in Belarus

The U.S. Embassy in Belarus has urged American citizens to leave the country immediately and advised against traveling there due to concerns over the presence of the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Lithuania has already closed two major border crossings with Belarus, and other neighboring countries may follow suit. The U.S. State Department has warned against travel to Belarus due to various factors, including Minsk's support of Russia's war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, potential civil unrest, and the risk of detention. Wagner fighters, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, have reportedly been helping train Belarus' military after an apparent failed uprising. Belarus is strategically located, bordering NATO countries and sitting near the Suwalki Corridor, a crucial strip of land between Poland and Lithuania.