MINSK, Belarus—Word went out across Iraq on Fb, YouTube and Telegram: The landlocked previous Soviet republic of Belarus was supplying an effortless gateway to a new lifetime in the European Union. Brothers Azar and Anad Shawkat made the decision this was their best shot to escape the hardships of house.
Last thirty day period, the 20-a thing siblings paid out extra than $4,000 for two “invitations” to take a look at Belarus and aircraft tickets to fly there from Iraq via Syria. When they arrived at the airport in Minsk, immigration officers waved them by, along with scores of other Iraqis from the packed flight.
