Norway regrets expulsion by Belarus of Swedish ambassador

“Norway regrets the decision taken by the Belarusian authorities to close its embassy in Stockholm until further notice and to request that Sweden withdraws all personnel from its embassy in Minsk,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. 

On 3 August the Belarusian authorities announced that the accreditation of the Swedish ambassador in Minsk would not be extended. Sweden responded by making it clear that Belarus’s incoming ambassador to Sweden would not be welcome. Two other Belarusian diplomats working at the Belarusian embassy were also asked to leave Sweden. 

“I fully understand the reaction of the Swedish authorities. These recent developments will serve to further deepen Belarus’s isolation. Norway will continue to support efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Belarus, together with the EU and other like-minded countries,” said Mr Støre. 

The Belarusian authorities decided to withdraw all personnel from their embassy in Stockholm and requested that Sweden do the same in Minsk. Their decision will also have consequences for Belarus’s relations with Norway. These have been handled through the Belarusian embassy in Stockholm, which is also accredited to Norway. 

“Belarus has a natural role to play in the European community of free nations. In order to be able to take on this role, the country’s authorities must respect democratic norms and fundamental human rights. Ensuring that the parliamentary elections to be held in the autumn are free and democratic would be an important step in the right direction.  If Belarus is to emerge from its self-imposed isolation, the Belarusian authorities should realise that it is in their interests to maintain normal diplomatic relations with the rest of the world,” said Mr Støre.