February 7, Pozirk. The Office of Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has expressed gratitude to Ukraine’s special envoy for Belarus, Ihor Kyzym, the opposition leader’s chief adviser Franak Viačorka told Pozirk.
He noted that the office “is very grateful to the ambassador for his work, dedication and the enhancement of Belarusian-Ukrainian relations.”
Cichanoŭskaja’s team was aware of Kyzym’s intention to retire this year, he said. “We will miss his energy very much.”
“Over the past year, we have managed to organize some Belarusian-Ukrainian events jointly, resolve some legalization issues and establish relations with the Ukrainian foreign ministry. Kyzym has always declared the importance of strengthening Ukrainian-Belarusian ties for the common struggle for freedom,” Viačorka said.
Cichanoŭskaja’s office hopes that Kyiv will appoint a new envoy to continue Kyzym’s mission, he added.
On Friday, the ambassador-at-large said on Facebook: “Today, solely for personal reasons, I have decided to retire from diplomatic service and take a ‘well-deserved rest.’”
Earlier that day, Kyzym talked about the Ukrainian-Belarusian relations in an interview with Ukrinform. https://pozirk.online/en/news/125391/
Kyiv appointed Kyzym special envoy for Belarus in February 2024.
From February 2017 to June 2023, Kyzym was Ukraine’s ambassador to Belarus. He stayed in Minsk even after Russia launched an offensive on his country from Belarus.
In April 2023, Kyiv recalled him for consultations after Łukašenka met with the Russian-backed separatist leader of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin.
