17 Nov 2021 21:59

Uzbekistan imposes ban on air transit to Belarus for citizens of several countries

TASHKENT. Nov 17 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan's aviation authorities imposed a temporary ban on air transit for citizens of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Lebanon, Libya to Belarus via the country on November 17, a representative of the Uzbek Civil Aviation Agency told reporters on Wednesday.

"Starting on November 17, temporary restrictions are imposed on transit passengers, who are citizens of Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Libya, and Afghanistan to enter the territory of the Republic of Belarus through the Republic of Uzbekistan," the representative of the agency said.

The airlines operating flights from Uzbekistan to Belarus must temporarily impose restrictions on the sale of tickets for citizens of these countries, he said.

"This temporary restriction does not apply to holders of diplomatic passports and the citizens of the above countries with a residence permit in the Republic of Belarus," the agency said.

The acute phase of the migrant crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border has been ongoing since the beginning of last week, when several thousand migrants from the Middle East and Africa came to the border hoping to enter EU territory.