Belarusian regime closes borders for US citizens
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16:17, — Politics
The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Belarus has handed the US Chargé d’Affaires Jonathan Moore a note and a list of US diplomats announced non grata persons.
“In connection with a refusal of the US side to follow the recommendation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Belarus on reducing the US Embassy staff in Minsk, Jonathan Moore was handed a note of the Foreign Ministry and given a list of the US diplomats announced non grata persons and who are to leave the territory of Belarus,” a statement of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry received on Wednesday by Interfax on Wednesday.
It is informed that at the moment there are 15 diplomats working in the US Embassy. As informed earlier, the Foreign Ministry of Belarus summoned Chargé Jonathan Moore on April 23. At the meeting, the Chargé was told that the Ministry "requested" that the Embassy provide a list of the five US diplomats who would remain in Belarus.
Mr. Moore protested this news, and noted that there would be grave consequences as a result of this unprecedented and unwarranted step by the Belarusian authorities. He added that he would inform the US Department of State in Washington and would provide a reply to the Belarusian requirement in due course.
After imposing sanctions against Belneftekhim concern by the US, Belarusian Ambassador Mikhail Khvastou was withdrawn from Washington on March 7. On March 12 US Ambassador Karen Stewart left Belarus on request of the Belarusian side.
After that the US were recommended to reduce the number of the Embassy’s staff. 17 US diplomats left Belarus on March 27. On March 31 the Belarusian side adopted a decision to reduce the number of the embassy in Washington according to the formula “six plus one” and offered the US to take the same steps. Then the Belarusian side offered to leave 5 US diplomats in Belarus.
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