Some Ukrainian diplomats asked to leave Belarus

Belarus has asked some Ukrainian diplomats to leave the country, press secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Glaz told the media in Minsk on 23 March, BelTA has learned. In this regard, a decision was taken to close the Consulate General of Ukraine in Brest. The Ukrainian Embassy will continue to work in Belarus in the 1+4 format: the ambassador and four employees. «In full compliance with Article 11 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Republic of Belarus has decided to reduce the number of Ukrainian diplomats on its territory,» Anatoly Glaz said.

This step, according to him, is aimed at stopping non-diplomatic activities of a number of employees of the Ukrainian foreign missions. «They have been asked to leave our country within 72 hours,» Anatoly Glaz said. The diplomatic staff [1 +s 4 format] can safely continue their work in accordance with the objectives defined by the Vienna Convention.

«In connection with the actual absence of personnel, Belarus has also decided to close the consulate of Ukraine in the city of Brest. I would like to emphasize once again that Ukrainians have been our kin people and will remain so,» Anatoly Glaz said. He also clarified that Belarus did not close its embassy in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed to numerous unfriendly actions of Ukraine aimed at irresponsible destruction of interstate relations with Belarus, business contacts and long-established ties between people since 2020. “It came to the point that the Ukrainian authorities began to interfere, directly an indirectly, in the internal affairs of Belarus. Back in 2021, they called Belarus was an hostile country at a high official level,” Anatoly Glaz noted.