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It depends on your definition of safe. You won't be robbed. You may be assaulted on the street at night even in downtown Minsk. But the biggest risk is the stat
by sam_lowry_ 2y ago
It depends on your definition of safe. You won't be robbed. You may be assaulted on the street at night even in downtown Minsk. But the biggest risk is the state.
If someone in the security apparatus decides that you should be taken hostage, tortured and beaten to death to show off to your government, they will do it and there will be no way for your consulate to help you.
It's tougher for locals. Over 300,000 people out of around 9 mln left the country since 2020, escaping from prosecution, prison or simply as they lost their jobs because of a smiley, comment on social media or just because they were subscribed to an opposition Telegram channel.
You have to understand that street crime and organized crime are virtually non-existent because thugs rule the country.
- ossobuco 2y ago> If someone in the security apparatus decides that you should be taken hostage, tortured and beaten to death to show off to your government, they will do it and there will be no way for your consulate to help you. Nah, just don't break their laws, it's pretty simple. European friends of mine visited Iran a few years ago, they even had some hookups with Tinder. I was very surprised at the time, their description felt like the opposite of what I was told about Iran by the media.
- sam_lowry_ 2y ago> Nah, just don't break their laws, it's pretty simple. Merely opening this link [1] would send you into trouble irrespective of whether you are local or a tourist. This is the chatbot of an opposition media in exile, FYI. There is for sure a law under which you will be prosecuted. [1] https://t.me/nextamail_bot https://t.me/nextamail_bot
- ossobuco 2y agoAs I said, don't break their laws. When in Rome...
- sam_lowry_ 2y agoHere is the case of a German citizen likely caught as hostage: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c28eym731zjo https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c28eym731zjo
- lesuorac 2y agoNobody is going to learn all the laws of a country. When the laws/custom of a country are so different than yours that a trivially legal act in your country becomes highly illegal in that country you should avoid that country because who knows what else you'll do that'll get you into trouble.
- actionfromafar 2y agoIran in particular has started to take foreigners hostage to trade prisoners with abroad. Laws don't matter much in Iran.
- sam_lowry_ 2y agoSame in Russia. Evan Gershkovich has been sentenced to 16 years in prison today.