Iraq suspends air service to Belarus, recalls consul’s license, Foreign Ministry says - TASS

Iraq’s authorities have made a decision to suspend direct air service to Belarus as well as to recall the work permit of the Belarusian consul in Baghdad, Iraqi Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Al-Sahaf said on Friday.

"The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has temporarily withdrawn the work permit of the honorary Belarusian consul in Baghdad <...> This step comes to protect Iraqi citizens from human smuggling networks through Russia and Poland," the Iraqi News Agency quoted him as saying.

He added that Iraq’s embassies "in Moscow and Warsaw are coordinating Iraq's efforts for the voluntary return of those stranded on the Belarus-Poland border," noting that "Iraq has stopped direct flights between Iraq and Belarus."