Estonia draws distinction Belarusians, Łukašenka’s regime – Estonian foreign minister

October 24, BPN. Estonia does not recognize Alaksandr Łukašenka as a legitimate Belarusian leader and makes a clear distinction between Belarusians and Łukašenka’s regime, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu told Belarusian opposition leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja at their meeting in Tallinn.

He promised to send an Estonian representative to Vilnius to work with the Belarusian opposition and presented Cichanoŭskaja with a copy of the declaration issued by the Rada of the Belarusian People’s Republic to recognize Estonia’s independence back in 1918.

Cichanoŭskaja will also meet with Estonia’s president and address the parliament during her visit.

On September 23, the Belarusian embassy in Tallinn informed Estonian foreign ministry of its decision to cut its staff to one in protest against Estonian delegation’s assistance to Cichanoŭskaja at the UN General Assembly.

On the same day, Belarusian foreign ministry summoned Estonian chargé d’affaires Triin Hiesalu and complained about “official attempts to appropriate the right to speak on behalf of the Belarusian people and risky schemes on the UN platform.” It also demanded that the embassy reduce its staff to one employee.

Lithuania and Latvia had cut their embassies’ staff in 2021 after a series of diplomatic scandals.