BELARUS WILL INTRODUCE 90 DAY VISA-FREE REGIME FOR 35 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Belarus, traditionally a close ally of Russia, said on Wednesday it would introduce a 90-day visa-free regime for citizens of 35 European countries in a sign Minsk may be keen to ease tensions with the West. Under the new policy, citizens of the 35 listed nations - which include Germany, Britain and France - will be able to enter Belarus without a visa and stay for up to 90 days per year.

Currently, travellers from those countries can only remain in Belarus for 30 days and must fly in via Minsk airport. The new policy takes effect on Friday. Minsk is under Western sanctions after President Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994 and a close ally of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to send thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022.

Learn More