U.S. Says Belarus Forces Closure Of Embassy Aid Office
udf.byThe United States Embassy in Minsk (file photo) The U.S. Embassy in Minsk said on October 29 that Belarusian authorities were “forcing the closure” of its humanitarian and outreach programs that have benefited thousands of people in the authoritarian country. Strongman leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s government has cracked down on civil society groups and the pro-democracy opposition since protests erupted against his disputed reelection last August, leading to several rounds of Western sanctions.
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that authorities informed it of new measures “designed to impede the functioning” of the mission by forcing the closure of its Public Diplomacy and U.S.