The United States said Monday it is suspending operations at its embassy in Belarus and allowing the departure of non-emergency staff from the American Embassy in Moscow.
"We took these steps due to security and safety issues stemming from the unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces in Ukraine," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
Belarus is a Russian ally that allowed its territory to be used as a staging ground for the attack on Ukraine.
In a referendum held Sunday, Belarusians voted to allow the country to host nuclear weapons and Russian forces permanently, results showed Monday. This was part of a package of constitutional reforms that also extended the rule of leader Alexander Lukashenko.
"We ultimately have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens, and that includes our U.S. government personnel and their dependents serving around the world," Blinken's statement said.
The United States already closed its embassy in Kyiv as Russia prepared the invasion and has been calling for weeks for American citizens in Ukraine to get out.
A small team of U.S. diplomats is handling embassy affairs from the western city Lviv, near the border with Poland.
In mid-February, the U.S. State Department also urged Americans in Belarus to leave that country.
The U.S. Embassies in the Belarus capital Minsk and Moscow were already operating at a reduced level because of tit-for-tat diplomat expulsions going back several years.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
