Event: The Lithuanian government on August 18 closed two border crossings with Belarus at Tverecius / Vidzy and Sumskas / Losha. The four border crossings at Lavoriskes / Kotlova, Medininkai / Kamenny, Raigardas / Privalka, and Salcininkai / Beniakoni are currently open. The Polish, Lithuanian, and Latvian governments have stated that further closures of border crossings with Belarus are possible.
Do not travel to Belarus due to Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.
U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately. Consider departing via the remaining border crossings with Lithuania and Latvia, or by plane. U.S. citizens are not permitted to enter Poland overland from Belarus. Do not travel to Russia or to Ukraine.
Read the travel advisory and country information page for additional information on travel to Belarus.
If you decide to travel to Belarus:
Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Keep your passport and visa documentation with you at all times.
Review your personal security situation and plan for contingencies that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
Monitor local and international media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans based on the new information.
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
Review the Country Security Report for Belarus.
praguepride on August 21st, 2023 at 17:12 UTC »
EU neighbors are closing their borders, hence the alert.
TruculentMC on August 21st, 2023 at 16:59 UTC »
Probably nothing major, this just an update to the same advisory from Feb 2022. It's being re-issued because Lithuania is closing some border crossings, which is new and pertinent info. This advisory gets re-issued every time something changes - it was last done in late July to update some COVID specific info.
original advisory from Feb 28, 2022 : https://by.usembassy.gov/belarus-level-4-do-not-travel-o-k-h-u-t/
reissue July 26, 2023: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Belarus.html
This same advisory reissued a few more times before that, which you can find in the archive.
midnightvibe91 on August 21st, 2023 at 16:12 UTC »
This is serious warning that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Leave Belarus