“Belarus’ border security agency on Monday announced a severe tightening of already strict rules limiting citizens’ ability to exit the country – even if they have long-term residency permits abroad. The changes, which the agency said were temporary and designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus, essentially block all land border crossings. Ever more citizens have fled the former Soviet bloc country since Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner of a disputed presidential election last August and mass protests over election rigging were met with a severe crackdown.”
“Faced with the prospect of a mass exodus of medical and IT experts, the government in Minsk began making it more difficult for citizens to leave the country last December, by limiting departures to those Belarus citizens who could present long-term residency permits from abroad. The new rules now forbid the holders of such documents from leaving as well” – Deutsche Welle.