The short summer weekly Manchester service has/had a contract bringing Chernobil victims for rest-bite care and medical attention to the North West - Primarily the Christy Cancer Foundation.
Belorussians are subject to similar VISA restrictions as other CIS nations including Russia.
The nation politically remains pretty much a traditional soviet state controlled by a Politburo and family mafia.
Beyond Minsk Belavia offer very competitive prices and easy connections into the Caucuses and especially the gas fields around the Caspian Sea