UK temporarily recalls ambassador to Belarus

Jacqueline Perkins was recalled in response to the Belarusian government’s decision to expel 35 diplomats from neighbouring Poland and Lithuania

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has temporarily recalled the UK’s ambassador to Belarus (Justin Tallis/PA)

The UK has temporarily recalled its ambassador to Belarus Jacqueline Perkins in response to the Belarusian government’s decision to expel 35 diplomats from neighbouring Poland and Lithuania.

Minsk asked the two countries to scale back the number of diplomatic staff they had in Belarus on Friday amid ongoing political unrest following the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko.