EU Delegation to Belarus: The Strength of Our Solidarity Is Unlimited

European diplomats reacted to the expulsion of their British colleagues from Minsk.

The expulsion of two British diplomats is another annoying and unacceptable step of the Belarusian authorities, according to the statement of the European Union Delegation to Belarus in connection with the expulsion of two British diplomats.

The EU Delegation declares that the reasoning given by the Belarusian authorities for expelling the diplomats is unjustified and relates to the standard work which a foreign diplomat not only has the right but is even obliged to do.

"As diplomats, we must be able to do our jobs. Further intimidation of our colleagues as they carry out normal diplomatic tasks is unacceptable," the EU Delegation says.

The expulsion of the diplomats follows last month's "request" that Poland and Lithuania recall their ambassadors and limit drastically their diplomatic presence in Belarus. According to the diplomats, these actions further isolate the Belarusian authorities and do not contribute to keeping the channels of communication open.

"For the last couple of months, Minsk-based EU Heads of Missions – joined by our British colleagues – have stood in solidarity with the people of Belarus who demand the respect for fundamental democratic rights through free and fair elections at a turning point in the country's history. We also expressed solidarity with our Lithuanian and Polish colleagues, and now we express solidarity with our British colleagues. The strength of our solidarity is unlimited. We will continue to work together in support of fundamental values and freedoms in Belarus," says the EU Delegation.