Urgent advice re Flight out of Minsk

[sellingupslow]

Hi,

Sorry for posting here, posting for traffic.
Im at a complete loss, does anyone know of ANY way to get someone from Minsk to the UK urgently? They are too afraid to fly through Russia out of fear of getting stuck there, so no routes through Russia please!

To make matters more complicated they have a positive PCR, no vaccine but they do have proof of recovery (had Covid in late Jan). They also have no Schengen VISA.

Money is not an issue, just need to get them out.

Obvious question but does their country have an embassy in Belarus they could contact? There’s a British embassy there but don’t know what nationality this person is. I hope they (and you) are ok.

Nationality? (for embassy suggestions)
It’s only 200 miles to the Polish border - can they get there and seek assistance from Polish authorities? I think the PCR status is the least issue - nationality will be the thing.

Can they get a train to Poland and then work their way from there?

They're Belarusian- will look into the suggestions now, thanks everyone

Proof of recovery in the past surely meaningless as they have Covid again ? Maybe delta then, Omicron now.
Agree on contacting the embassy , is this person a UK citizen ?

Sorry cross posted.
Can the person get to Poland ?

There are direct flights to turkey and google suggests they can get a visa for turkey on arrival?
Is there a Belarus embassy there they could get help from for a U.K. visa?

Poland have declared themselves a free-for-all (for Ukranians, at least) so I suspect that is their best bet.

Or train to Lithuania, and then fly to UK?

What everyone said take the train out

Then wait for positive PCR then fly

Minsk - Warsaw Chopin normally runs once or twice a day. From there the world is your oyster.

We are in similar situation trying to rescue grandmother from Lviv - she is too Weak to fly or walk to bus/train - only person we have is in Poland and the minute he crosses the border he will be conscripted :(

When I visited Minsk a couple of years ago we flew from Edinburgh via Frankfurt on BA then KLM. Didn't go over or near Russia.

I'd find a way to get to Poland by car or whatever and then over the border there.

I'm summarising something I read yesterday that you can just cross borders in this situation and claim asylum and then they will issue you with papers for onward travel. Will try and find a link

Why does it have to be a flight to the UK rather than a journey to the next safest European Country. Surely that is the most sensible and easiest option, unless they are British nationals?

Here you go.

No official reason to accept an asylum claim from a Belarusian though, and they’ll not be able to claim they’re Ukrainian and left with papers, if they don’t speak Ukrainian. Presumably they’re not in immediate danger? Fighting is on Ukrainian soil. I can’t see Putin annexing Belarus as a priority as it’s in his pocket anyway.
I’d head for whichever border country is easiest to get a visa for.

@Warszawa I’m sorry, I hope you find someone in Lviv who can bring her to Poland ❤️

Don't fly to Russia, there will be no flights to UK. I would suggest Turkey. Look up stopovers at Istanbul. They wouldnt need a visa

I'm sorry that you and your loved one are going through something this awful and I hope they get to safety quickly. Sending many, many positive thoughts to you.

@Warszawa

Minsk - Warsaw Chopin normally runs once or twice a day. From there the world is your oyster.

We are in similar situation trying to rescue grandmother from Lviv - she is too Weak to fly or walk to bus/train - only person we have is in Poland and the minute he crosses the border he will be conscripted :(

Can you literally put her in a taxi? Meet her at the border?

Belorusians can get to Turkey without a visa, but they can’t then get from Turkey to the U.K. without one. But as an interim country to get out of Belarus it’s a good call.

There is a direct flight to Istanbul on Sunday that has availability. It's a good call, I've searched everything to the UK for the next four days and there is nothing that doesn't go via Russia plus one or two additional stops.

www.reuters.com/world/europe/central-european-countries-prepare-receive-ukrainian-refugees-2022-02-24/

This report says that Poland has suspended Covid requirements.

I’m guessing Turkey may not have done, as there is no reason for Turkey to treat Belarusians as asylum seekers, and politically I can’t see that washing with their relationship with Putin. So I’d book a flight whilst it’s available but then get onto checking that. Buying a fake certificate in Minsk possibly?

@Warszawa Im so sorry to hear that. I'll be thinking of you and your family. What a horrible horrible situation to be in, I wish I had a magic cure

Thank you everyone for advice, I'm slowly going through it all. Unfortunately she can't get into Poland without a Shengen visa, but flying via Istanbul is an option, I'll check it out now.