American diplomats leaving Belarus (Video)

11 American diplomats are to leave Belarus on 3 May before noon. Four diplomats including US Charge d’Affaires Jonathan Moore, will remain in Minsk. On 30 April Jonathan Moore was given a list of US diplomats who had been declared persona non grata in Belarus and must leave the country within 72 hours.

The Belarus-USA relations escalated in March after the US Treasury Department had published clarification to the sanctions imposed against Belneftekhim company in November 2007 with a demand to release political prisoners in Belarus. On 7 March Belarusian ambassador to US Mikhail Khvastou was recalled from Washington for consultations. On 12 March US ambassador Karen Stewart left Minsk on the insistence of Belarus.

The US was recommended to reduce its embassy staff. On 27 March 17 American diplomats left Minsk while 15 embassy officers remained.