Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reduces staff of Estonian embassy

Charge d'Affaires of Estonia in Belarus Triin Hiesalu was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus on September 23rd. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus analyzed a number of recent deliberate actions of the Estonian leadership, including official attempts to appropriate the right to speak on behalf of the Belarusian people and adventures at the UN site. They cannot be regarded otherwise than as provocations against the sovereignty and independence of our country. Respect for these principles, as well as non-interference in each other's internal affairs, is the basic basis for normal bilateral relations between any states.

Therefore, their obvious violation by the leadership of the Republic of Estonia in relation to the Republic of Belarus cannot remain without an appropriate reaction. Given the disrespectful attitude to the sovereignty of our country on the part of the Estonian leadership, the Republic of Belarus, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, does not see the point of a broad diplomatic presence of Estonia on its territory.

In this regard, from October 1, 2022, the staff of the Embassy of this country should be brought up to one diplomatic employee to perform consular functions and one employee of administrative and technical personnel. Similarly, the Belarusian side will reduce its diplomatic presence in Estonia.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Estonia responds to consultations in Minsk. The Belarusian side will take all necessary measures so that the populist actions of official Tallinn do not affect the real interests of ordinary citizens of Belarus and Estonia, including in terms of consular support. Minsk will continue its line of maintaining traditionally good neighborly relations with the friendly Estonian people. The issues of restoring a full-fledged diplomatic presence and a full-scale dialogue can be considered by the Belarusian side after the Estonian leadership returns to the civilized, universally recognized principles of interstate communication and mutually respectful dialogue.”