The Belarusian authorities recalled the country’s ambassador to Sweden, Dmitry Mironchik, to Minsk for consultations. In turn, Sweden’s charge d’affaires in Belarus was recalled to Stockholm for consultations. About this Belarusian service of Radio Liberty reported at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The recall of the heads of diplomatic missions was the result of another aggravation of relations between the countries. Its reason was the sharp reaction of the Belarusian authorities to the appointment by Stockholm of an official representative to the Belarusian democratic community abroad. Diplomat Kristina Johansson, who previously worked at the Swedish embassy in Minsk, was appointed to this position in November.
See also The Belarusian opposition presented the passport of “New Belarus” in Warsaw
The Swedish Foreign Ministry reported that after this appointment it held negotiations with representatives of official Minsk. Their details are not reported. The Belarusian service of Radio Liberty, citing diplomatic sources, reports that the Belarusian authorities were extremely dissatisfied with the appointment, as well as with the statement of Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, who named exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya the real winner of the presidential elections in Belarus in 2020. The victory of Alexander Lukashenko was officially proclaimed; Sweden, like a number of other countries, does not consider him a legitimate leader, but at the same time maintains relations with official Minsk.
#diplomatic #scandal #broke #Sweden #Belarus
2024-01-05 17:31:43
