U.S. Will Not Issue Visas to High-Ranking Belarus Officials

Press Statement
Lynn L. Cassel, Acting Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 26, 2002

New U.S. Visa Restrictions Against Belarus

Effective immediately, the United States Government will not issue visas for official and personal travel to the United States by Mr. Alexander Lukashenko, leader of Belarus, and seven other high-ranking officials of his government. We are taking this step in tandem with 14 member countries of the European Union.

The United States imposes this extraordinary measure in view of the Continuing erosion of human rights and democratic principles in Belarus, specifically the forced shutdown of the Advisory and Monitoring Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe based in Minsk.

The United States will monitor the situation in Belarus in determining whether to continue this visa policy. In this regard, we would welcome the return of the Advisory and Monitoring Group to Minsk. Belarus must undertake a policy of political liberalization and respect for human rights if it hopes to improve relations with the international community and end its self-imposed isolation.

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Released on November 26, 2002