Belarus introduces temporary visa-free travel for 35 European countries: what dangers it entails

On July 19, Belarus introduced a visa-free regime with 35 European countries, which will be in effect until the end of 2024. It is noted that self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko agreed to this step "in order to further demonstrate the country's openness and peacefulness."

This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus. Starting from 8:00 a.m. on July 19, citizens of the following countries will be able to enter Belarus without a visa through all land and air international checkpoints "with valid documents" and stay on Belarusian territory "no more than 30 days from the date of entry":

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Estonia (including stateless persons permanently residing in the Republic of Estonia).

The previously introduced visa-free entry regime through land checkpoints, which is valid for citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other countries, as well as visa-free arrival through air checkpoints, also remains in force.

Minsk believes that the measures they have taken create "additional logistical opportunities for guests of Belarus against the background of artificial obstacles and restrictions of neighboring Western countries."

What dangers can Belarusian visa-free travel pose?

Lithuania and Latvia have previously warned their citizens about the dangers of Belarusian visa-free travel. Recently, the head of the Lithuanian State Security Department, Darius Jauniškis, said in an interview with 15min.lt that the Belarusian regime intends to kidnap Lithuanian citizens.

"We are aware of the situation, it is worrying. I perceive it as the Belarusian regime has started abducting Lithuanian citizens for no reason," he said.

Jauniškis was referring to the closed trial in Belarus of Lithuanian citizen Eleną Ramanauskienę on charges of espionage (she worked as the head of marketing at the Belarus sanatorium in Lithuania). The Minsk City Court sentenced the woman to six years in prison.

"I would like to warn our citizens who still want to travel to Belarus for cheaper goods or gasoline this case indicates that the Belarusian regime has serious intentions to kidnap Lithuanian citizens. They kidnap citizens, fabricate evidence, convict and imprison them on the basis of it. These are very disturbing trends. I would like to draw the public's attention to the fact that you should think seriously before going there because you may find yourself in the place of that citizen," Jauniškis said.

As reported, Estonia has banned the entry of cars with Belarusian license plates, joining Latvia and Lithuania in tightening EU sanctions against Belarus. The measure is aimed at increasing pressure on the Belarusian regime for its complicity in Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

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