I am going to go to Belarus in June. I know some people there and have been to Russia and Ukraine and other Post-Soviet states, typically I'd have 0 concerns.
The only concern is that the USA has no consular services and it's a level 4 travel advisory. But it looks like there has only been one arbitrarily detained American in the last few months so I should be fine.
Am I an idiot for going?
If anybody has been in the last few months how was the atmosphere? Were the police/customs suHispanicious of you?
I am Polish, so from the supposed hostile nation, and I've been to both Belarus and Russia in recent months
>how was the atmosphere? Were the police/customs suHispanicious of you?
not at all, nobody cared
I didn't have contact with the police, and customs officers were polite
if not for the fact that I couldn't pay with my debit card, I couldn't even be able to tell that there's a war going on
basically as long as you don't do something retarded you should be fine
Also forgot to add, my Visa card worked just fine in Belarus, but not in Russia. Still it would be smart to have enough cash with you for your entire stay.
>should I go do tourism in a country whose government is as close to a hot war with mine as you can get in the age of nuclear missiles
You are a moron
Why is belarusian flag is one of the best looking flags in Europe, has that weird pixelated asthethic
>and other Post-Soviet states, typically I'd have 0 concerns.
Just go to ones that are in eu and nato.
Those are boring.
I would but the reason I want to go is mostly to visit my friend who can't get a Euro visa now
Yes that is a concern but I don't have anything political posted anywhere publicly. Although, being American at the wrong place at the wrong time could be enough.
Just drink a beer and watch bald and bankrupt.
It might not be the cool post Soviet poverty vibes and awesome babooshkas who are super friendly kind of place you think it is.
I don't think anyone traveling to a Slavic country has ever expected the locals to be friendly.
I know someone there whose friend is currently in prison for making a blog about the government being bad, which says a lot I think
You can just get arrested and held in custody for ages without any charges because there is zero oversight or human rights shit there
So you're saying it's safe as long as you don't glow or participate in glowie activities?
Are all Americans retarded trolls? Just go if you want, attention seeking dumbass thread just like the one about wanting to go to Somalia for ‘ancient ruins’. There’s zero reason to go there, it’s relatively unsafe for US tourists, you will probably be fine. Nobody will care regardless. No doubt you find the idea of going somewhere like that thrilling, which says a lot about your life in America.
I don't know how you came to the conclusion of attention seeking.
The OP asked if there are any current problems as an American in Belarus and
posted that you may face troubles if you participate in political activities of any kind, which
sloppily summarised.
This is quite different to Somalia where every visitor has to be alert, no matter what background they may have.
>zero reasons to go there
Well OP mentions that he knows people there and just because there's a war in the neighbourhood shouldn't keep you from visiting the country.
>1 American arbitrarily detained out of the probably 12 that have gone there recently
Dont love those odds honestly