UK ambassador recalled from Belarus

Britain joined a European Union move to recall ambassadors from Belarus today in response to what Foreign Secretary Willian Hague said was continued repression there.

The former Soviet republic’s ambassador to the UK has also been summoned to the Foreign Office for talks in a series of tit-for-tat diplomatic moves.

Minsk had asked the EU and Polish ambassadors to leave in protest at sanctions imposed by the EU – which include a travel ban and asset freeze on 200 officials due to human rights violations.

Mr Hague said he was “deeply disappointed” by the Belarus decision.

“The UK, together with its EU partners, has consistently made clear to Belarus that the EU would continue to impose further sanctions as long as political prisoners remained in place and the repression of civil society continued,” he said.

“I regret that there have been no positive developments in this respect and that, instead, the repression has continued unabated and further political prisoners have been detained.

“We remain committed to supporting the people of Belarus and willing to re-engage fully with Belarus once the conditions are right.

“In light of this most recent development, the UK has decided, in solidarity with all other EU member states, to recall for consultations its ambassador to Minsk and to summon the Belarusian ambassador to the UK to the Foreign Office.”