Travel alert: US tourists advised not to visit this European country

A European country is under the highest-rated travel advisory, urging U.S. citizens to avoid the nation entirely.

The U.S. Department of State issued a Level 4 “Dot Not Travel” advisory for Belarus on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Belarus is an Eastern European country bordered by Russia, Ukraine Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

The advisory states travel to Belarus should be avoided because of “Belarusian authorities’ arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the risk of detention, the continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the potential of civil unrest, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.”

In early 2022, the State Department ordered the departure of U.S. government employees and suspended operations at its Embassy in Minsk.

Belarus also does not recognize dual nationality, so authorities often refuse to acknowledge dual U.S.-Belarusian nationals’ American citizenship. This means they often deny or delay consular assistance to detained people.

Tens of thousands of individuals, including some U.S. citizens, are being detained in the country for alleged affiliation with opposition parties and participation in political demonstrations, according to the State Department.

About 1,300 of those prisoners are currently in jail for political acts that wouldn’t be considered criminal in the U.S. and prisoners are routinely denied access to their embassy and lawyers and any outside communication.

U.S. citizens still in Belarus are advised to leave immediately. Those who remain in the country should avoid public demonstrations and reconsider bringing electronic devices, most of which are being monitored by Belarusian security services, into the country.

More information about traveling to Belarus can be found on the State Department’s website.