Belarus revokes US ambassador’s appointment over new sanctions
- Belarus also ordered the US to reduce the number of staff in its Minsk embassy to five people
- Last year, Julie Fisher was confirmed as the first US envoy to the ex-Soviet country since 2008 but was still awaiting her visa
“The American side was suggested to reduce the number of staff in its Minsk embassy to five people by September 1,” foreign ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said in a statement.
He said it was a response to “impudent and openly hostile actions” from the US.
“Against the backdrop of Washington’s actions to reduce cooperation in all spheres and to economically suffocate our country, we quite objectively don’t see any sense in the presence of such significant personnel,” Glaz said.
He also said Belarus had revoked consent for the appointment of the US ambassador – career diplomat Julie Fisher, who in December was confirmed as the first US envoy to the ex-Soviet country since 2008 but was still awaiting her visa.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said Fisher and the personnel of the US embassy in Minsk would “continue to support the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus” including by engaging with “leaders of the pro-democracy movement”.