French Foreign Ministry urged citizens to leave Belarus

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on its citizens who are in Belarus to immediately leave the country, says on the website of the department. The Foreign Ministry also called on citizens to refrain from traveling to the republic.

“In the context of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the closure of Belarusian airspace, any trips to Belarus are strictly not recommended. The French, who are on the territory of Belarus, are invited to leave the country without delay by road through Lithuania, Poland or Latvia, ”the statement says.

The ministry added that citizens who wish to fly out of the country must apply for an exit visa at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus.

Last October, French President Emmanuel Macron warned President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko from participating in the conflict in Ukraine, otherwise he will have “problems”. Macron also recalled that the EU had already imposed sanctions on Belarus after the Russian military was stationed on the territory of this country “for transfer to Ukraine.”

In November, Lukashenka saidthat Western countries are trying with all their might to draw the republic into the conflict in Ukraine. The Belarusian president stressed the need to stop the conflict in Ukraine and start peace talks. At the same time, the President of Belarus wondered whether Ukraine would be allowed to sit at the negotiating table. “Belarus has constantly and persistently warned of a dangerous escalation of the military-political situation in the European region. We pointed to the degradation of the international security system, the depreciation of agreements in the field of disarmament and arms control,” Lukashenka said.

Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Putin named its goals the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. During the special operation, Russian troops took full control of the LPR, as well as most of the DPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Subsequently, these territories became part of Russia, and on October 19 martial law was introduced in the regions.