Łukašenka dismisses ambassadors to Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Nordic countries
March 12, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has dismissed several Belarusian ambassadors serving in European and Central Asian countries, says a document published on the National Legal Internet Portal.
Dzianis Sidrenka has been dismissed as ambassador to Germany; Andrej Stračko, Kyrgyzstan; Alaksiej Samasujeŭ, Finland and Denmark; Dźmitryj Mirončyk, Sweden and Norway.
In early January, RFE/RL Belarus Service said that Minsk recalled its ambassador from Stockholm, while Sweden recalled its charge d’affaires from Belarus, citing sources in Sweden’s foreign ministry.
Minsk reportedly reacted to the promise by Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström to recognize Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja as the winner in the 2020 presidential election. In November, Billström appointed former Swedish Ambassador to Belarus Christina Johannesson as the special envoy for relations with Belarusian pro-democracy forces.
Minsk’s diplomatic row with Stockholm
A Belarusian-Swedish diplomatic row broke out seemingly out of the blue. Minsk recalled its ambassador from Sweden, and Stockholm responded by recalling its charge d'affaires from Belarus. The withdrawals of diplomats came two months after Sweden appointed Kristina Johannesson, a …