AGP Executive Report

Humanitarian Transit: A six-day ceasefire around Oleshky has expired after evacuees crossed from Belarus into Ukraine. Ukraine says it also moved 167 people, including 22 children, to safer parts of Kherson region; officials are exploring ways to continue humanitarian missions. Air Links: Belavia has launched direct flights from Minsk to Bangkok, with Phuket service also planned, adding new options for long-haul travellers. River Tourism: The cruise ship Belaya Rus carried 717 passengers this season, most of them foreign visitors. Travel Advice: Belarus has issued an advisory for six European countries amid protests; travellers should check conditions before departure.

Humanitarian Transit: Four planes carrying evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky landed in Gomel. The residents then travelled by bus through Belarus and crossed into Ukrainian-held territory under a temporary ceasefire. Air Links: Belavia has launched direct flights from Minsk to Bangkok, with Phuket service next. Travel Advisory: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens to avoid nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests. River Cruising: The Belaya Rus cruise ship carried 717 passengers this season, most of them foreign visitors.

Humanitarian Transit: Hundreds of evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky passed through Gomel after a rare ceasefire, then crossed into Ukraine, where families and aid workers welcomed them. Air Links: Belavia has launched direct Minsk–Bangkok flights, with Phuket service also planned, adding new options for long-haul travellers. River Tourism: The Belaya Rus cruise ship carried 717 passengers this season, most of them foreign visitors. Travel Advice: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry advised citizens to avoid non-essential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests.

Humanitarian Transit: Four planes carrying residents evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky landed in Gomel on Saturday. The evacuees were due to continue by bus into Ukraine after a rare ceasefire enabled their departure. Air Links: Belavia has launched direct flights from Minsk to Bangkok, with Phuket service planned next, expanding options for long-haul travelers. River Cruising: The Belaya Rus carried 717 passengers this season, most of them foreign visitors. Travel Advisory: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry advised against nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests.

Traveler Safety: Georgian police detained a man accused of assaulting a tourist from Minsk at Tbilisi’s train station. The woman said the attack followed her speaking Russian; the suspect gave a different account of the dispute. Tourism Fraud: A court in Hrodna handed down a verdict in a case involving fraud with travel packages. Air Links: Belavia has launched direct flights from Minsk to Bangkok, with Phuket service also planned. Travel Advisory: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens to avoid nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests. River Cruises: The Belaya Rus cruise ship carried 717 passengers this season, most of them foreign visitors.

Air Links: Belarus plans to restore flights between Minsk and regional centres when locally developed Asvei light aircraft become available. Belavia has launched direct flights to Bangkok, with Phuket next in line. Heritage Travel: Archaeologists at Kreva Castle have uncovered a hidden stairway and entrance in its main tower, adding a new point of interest at the historic site. Cruises: The Belaya Rus carried 717 passengers this season, most of them foreign visitors. Travel Advice: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry advised citizens to avoid nonessential travel to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests.

Domestic Connections: Belarus says regional flights from Minsk could return once locally developed Asvei light aircraft become available. Gomel, Brest, Mogilev and Vitsebsk airports have resumed operations, while Grodno is being upgraded for a planned winter reopening. Heritage Travel: Archaeologists at Kreva Castle have found a hidden stairway and entrance to the lowest level of its main tower, adding to the appeal of the historic site under restoration. International Routes: Belavia has launched direct Minsk–Bangkok flights, with Phuket service planned next. Travel Safety: A Grodno court sentenced two men for selling fake tour packages to 45 Belarusians, causing losses of more than 150,000 rubles. Belarus also advised citizens to avoid nonessential trips to six European countries amid protests.

Heritage Tourism: Archaeologists at Kreva Castle have uncovered a hidden passage leading to the lowest level of its main tower, adding a new draw to the historic site as restoration continues. Travel Deals: Belavia has launched weekly direct flights from Minsk to Bangkok and starts twice-weekly Phuket service on October 29, opening new routes for Belarusian travellers to Thailand. Tourist Protection: A Hrodna court sentenced two men behind a fake-tour scheme that defrauded 45 people of more than 150,000 rubles; both have admitted guilt and compensated victims. Cruise Tourism: The Belaya Rus carried 717 passengers this season, most of them foreign visitors. Travel Advisory: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry has advised against non-essential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests.

Travel Safety: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry says it has no reports of Belarusians among those killed or injured in Spain’s deadly train collision; the embassy is monitoring the situation. Belavia Routes: The airline has begun weekly nonstop Minsk–Bangkok flights and is set to launch twice-weekly service to Phuket on October 29. Tour Package Fraud: A Hrodna court sentenced two men who sold fake trips to 45 people, causing losses of more than 150,000 rubles; one received four years in prison, the other three years with a suspended sentence. Travel Advisory: Belarus advises against nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests. River Tourism: The Belaya Rus cruise ship carried 717 passengers this season, most of them foreign visitors.

New Thailand Links: Belavia has launched weekly Minsk–Bangkok flights and plans to begin twice-weekly service to Phuket on October 29, opening new direct routes for Belarusian travellers. River Cruising: The Belaya Rus cruise ship carried 717 passengers this season, with most visitors coming from abroad. Travel Advisory: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens to avoid nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests. Regional Transport: Latvia extended its ban on occasional coach services to Belarus and Russia at three border crossings until October 2027; regular services are still allowed for now. Tourism Cooperation: A new Belarus–Mongolia roadmap for 2027–29 includes plans to expand cooperation in tourism alongside transport, culture and other sectors.

Thailand Connections: Belavia has begun weekly direct flights from Minsk to Bangkok and plans to launch twice-weekly Phuket service on October 29, giving Belarusian travellers new scheduled routes to Thailand. River Cruises: Belarus’s Belaya Rus carried 717 passengers during its 2026 season, including 653 foreign visitors; bookings for next year are open, with sailings expected from mid-April. Travel Advisory: Belarus urged citizens to avoid nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests. Regional Links: Belarus and Mongolia agreed on a 2027–29 cooperation roadmap that includes tourism, alongside transport and cultural ties.

Air Links: Belavia has started weekly scheduled flights from Minsk to Bangkok, with twice-weekly Phuket services due to begin October 29. The Bangkok route uses an Airbus A330-200 and opens direct access to Thailand and onward connections in Asia. River Cruises: Belarus’s cruise ship Belaya Rus carried 717 passengers this season, including 653 foreign visitors, across 27 trips. Sailings ran from April 11 to October 17, with 2027 bookings already open and cruises expected to resume in mid-April. Travel Advice: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens to avoid nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania, citing protests and possible disruption to transport and communications. Belarusians already there were advised to avoid crowds and monitor local updates.

Air Links: Belavia has started weekly scheduled flights from Minsk to Bangkok, with twice-weekly Phuket service due to begin October 29. The routes add direct options for Belarusian travellers heading to Thailand. River Cruises: Belarus’s cruise ship Belaya Rus carried 717 passengers this season, including 653 foreigners, on 27 voyages. Bookings for 2027 are open, with sailings expected to resume in mid-April. Travel Advisory: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens to avoid nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests, warning that curfews and transport disruptions could follow. Citizens already there were told to avoid demonstrations and monitor local updates.

Cruise Tourism: Belarus’s only cruise ship, Belaya Rus, carried 717 passengers this season, including 653 foreign visitors, and sailed at nearly 99% occupancy. Bookings are open for 2027, with cruises expected to resume in mid-April. Air Links: Belavia has launched a weekly direct Minsk–Bangkok flight, opening a new route to Thailand and onward connections across Asia. Travel Advisory: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens to avoid nonessential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid protests, warning of possible curfews and transport disruption. Rail Travel: Cross-border trains between Vitebsk and Smolensk now stop at Liozna, adding a connection for passengers travelling between Belarus and Russia. Getting Around Minsk: Public transport rules require dogs and cats to travel in carriers with an absorbent base; passengers must also carry animal documents.

Travel Advisory: Belarus’s Foreign Ministry urged citizens to avoid non-essential trips to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania amid unrest, and advised those already there to steer clear of protests and follow local guidance. Air Links: Belavia has begun weekly direct flights from Minsk to Bangkok, opening a new route to Thailand and onward connections across Asia. Rail Travel: From October 25, cross-border trains between Vitsyebsk and Smolensk also stop in Liozna; passengers entering the border zone need photo identification. Getting Around Minsk: Pet owners using public transport must carry dogs and cats in carriers with absorbent bottoms and bring animal documents; drivers can require passengers carrying pets in their arms to get off.

Air Links: Belavia has launched its first scheduled direct Minsk–Bangkok service, with weekly Sunday flights on Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The route adds a major Asian destination and hub for onward connections. Rail Travel: From October 25, cross-border trains between Vitsyebsk and Smolensk stop at Liozna, improving access for local passengers; the services have carried more than 64,000 people since April. Entry Rules: Belarusian citizens are among those eligible for Thailand’s 15-day visa on arrival, which costs 2,000 baht. More Routes: Belavia has also resumed flights to Sri Lanka, widening travel options from Minsk.