Belarus expels three Polish diplomats, Warsaw says
The trio were two consuls from Grodno and the go-between of the Polish border guard in Minsk. "They have to leave Belarus by the end of the day on Wednesday," Lukasz Jasina said. "We are thinking about a good and proper response to this."
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 03:18 | 20 February 2023
- Modified Date: 04:50 | 20 February 2023
Belarus is expelling three Polish diplomats, a spokesman for the Polish Foreign Ministry said on Monday, amid increasing tensions between Warsaw and Minsk.
The trio were two consuls from Grodno and the go-between of the Polish border guard in Minsk. "They have to leave Belarus by the end of the day on Wednesday," Lukasz Jasina said.
"We are thinking about a good and proper response to this."
Belarus has called the decision to close the border crossing irrational and dangerous. The Belarusian foreign ministry could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday.
Poland has been an important refuge for opponents of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, and Warsaw has become one of Kyiv's staunchest supporters since Belarus' main ally Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Relations were further strained when a Belarusian court sentenced a journalist of Polish origin to eight years in prison in a trial Warsaw said was politically motivated.
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