Lukashenka's aide appointed deputy foreign minister

Valyantin Rybakou has been appointed deputy minister of foreign affairs of Belarus.

Relevant Resolution No. 18 was signed by the Council of Ministers on 9 January.

On January 8, Lukashenka relieved Valyantin Rybakou of his post as presidential aide due to the transfer to another post. He also relieved Syarhei Aleinik of his post of deputy foreign minister and appointed him Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with concurrent accreditation to Ireland.

Rybakou was responsible for foreign policy in the administration of the Belarusian dictator, but kept a low profile most of the time. In 2011, WikiLeaks website cast light on him by releasing cables of US diplomats – Valyantin Rybakou was mentioned in dozens of cables. The cables in WikiLeaks archieves describe the presidential aide as a source of information for the US Embassy in Belarus, who was subordinate to head of the presidential administration Uladzimir Makei. Makei serves as a foreign minister now.