Belarus to extend visa-free entry for residents of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland until end of 2023

MINSK. Dec 22 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has supported a proposal on extending visa-free entry for residents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland throughout 2023, the First Man's Pool Telegram channel close to the presidential press service reported on Wednesday.

"In confirmation of our country's openness and its commitment to neighborliness and stronger interethnic ties, a decision was made today to extend visa-free travel. Citizens of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland will continue to be able to visit Belarus without any obstacles," it said.

Belarus introduced visa-free entry for citizens of Lithuania and Latvia, as well as for persons having non-citizen status in Latvia, on April 15, 2022. Polish citizens have been able to enter Belarus visa-free since July 1, 2022.

"The current entry regulations were supposed to remain in place until the end of this year," it said.

Since said regulations took effect, nearly 370,000 European Union citizens have visited Belarus, over 70% of them being citizens of Lithuania, about 20% Latvia, and 10% Poland.