David Lidington: The British Ambassador will seek the release of political prisoners

Britain's ambassador to Belarus is to return to its capital Minsk alongside ambassadors from other European Union nations, the Government has announced.

Representatives from the UK and other EU member states were recalled in a coordinated withdrawal of EU ambassadors.

The decision was in response to a move by the Belarusian government to ask the head of the EU delegation and the Polish ambassador to leave in the wake of EU sanctions being imposed.

In a written ministerial statement, Europe Minister David Lidington said: "Since the mass protests against the conduct of the Belarusian Presidential election on 19 December 2010, the Belarusian Government has tightened its authoritarian grip on the country.

"Hundreds of people have been punished for taking part in peaceful protests, with many human rights defenders, and opposition politicians and activists detained. As a result, the EU re-imposed sanctions against the Government of Belarus in January 2011, and expanded and extended the measures throughout 2011."

Mr Lidington said the EU imposed further sanctions on February 28 this year.

He added: "On the same day, the Belarusian Government asked the Head of the EU Delegation and the Polish Ambassador in Minsk to return to their capitals for consultations. In response to this act, the Foreign Secretary approved the recall of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Minsk as part of a coordinated withdrawal by EU Ambassadors."

Mr Lidington said William Hague chose to recall Britain's ambassador "to make clear" that Belarus' treatment of the Polish ambassador and head of the EU delegation was "unacceptable".

He said: "That point has now been made; both ambassadors were able to return to Belarus unhindered yesterday. Her Majesty's ambassador will therefore return to Minsk in short order, along with her colleagues from other EU member states.

"The Foreign Secretary and I have instructed her to continue to press the Belarusian Government for the immediate release of all political prisoners without condition."