Minsk, BELARUS - The Government of Belarus has banned me from entering their country. On October 10, 2008 I flew to Minsk with three of my associates from Bulgaria on a four day visit. Upon entering Belarus from Vienna at the Minsk airport on a tourist visa, the group was told I will not be allowed in the country.
The border police officer informed me in the presence of one of his colleagues and my travel companions that I will be deported immediately back to Vienna where we came from. I was also told I was banned from ever entering the country again.
When I asked him for a reason, he said this was a decision of the authorities
and I can make an official inquiry at the Embassy of the Russian Federation
when I get back to Sofia. I told him that there is a Belorussian Embassy in
Sofia, wanting to make sure there was no mistake. However, he was adamant I
need to contact the Embassy of the Russian Federation if I wanted more information.
The Austrian Airlines personnel was kind enough to hold the airplane with 88 passengers waiting while the deportation procedure was completed. I was then given back my passport and was allowed to board the aircraft. We were shortly in the air on our way back to Vienna.
The rest of the team was allowed to enter Belarus.
REPORT BY: George Bakalov
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