Official Minsk suggests U.S. cut embassy staff to seven

The Belarusian side wants to reduce the number of its diplomats in the United Nations and U.S. ones in Belarus on a parity basis, according to the formula one plus six,” deputy foreign minister Viktar Haisyanok told journalists on 2 April. It means an ambassador and six diplomatic representatives should work in embassy.

As the representative of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “our people are returning from the U.S.” “We have so far received no reply from the embassy,” V. Haisyanok said.

According to V. Haisyanok, a part of staff of the Belarusian embassy in Washington (about 10 people – BelaPAN) will come back to Belarus soon. “We are expecting the U.S. to rescind unconditionally the sanctions, imposed against Belneftekhim, it is the only ground for further dialog,” the deputy minister emphasised.

The sanctions were imposed after the official Minsk had refused to release political prisoners, in first turn, former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin.