UK expels Belarusian diplomats in tit-for-tat retaliation, saying Britain ‘will not be cowed’

Dominic Raab tweeted that the UK "will not be cowed" by Belarus

Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters

The UK has expelled two Belarusian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move against Minsk, saying it would not be “cowed” by the regime of embattled dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus on Monday declared two British officials persona non grata over “activities incompatible with their diplomatic status”.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described the charges as “wholly unfounded”, calling them an attempt to pressure the UK over its criticism of a rigged election and “despicable violence against the Belarusian people”.

Belarus has been rocked by unrest since August when protests broke out against Mr Lukashenko’s re-election, following a vote dismissed by the opposition and the West as fraudulent.

Thousands have been arrested and several killed in an ongoing protest movement, while many demonstrators have complained of torture in police custody.

The UK and EU have sanctioned Mr Lukashenko over the violence, and called for fresh elections.

Belarus has attempted to crackdown on anti-government protests

Credit: BelaPAN/Reuters

Britain has withdrawn its ambassador to Minsk and on Tuesday summoned the Belarusian envoy to London over the expulsions.

Belarusian state media alleged the expelled British diplomats had been collecting information about anti-regime demonstrations and meeting with representatives of the opposition. Mr Raab said they were “legitimately observing protests”.

Mr Lukashenko, a former Soviet farm boss who has ruled the eastern European country with an iron fist for 26 years, has accused foreign forces of attempting to destabilise the situation in Belarus.

Protests and widespread strikes seemed on course to topple Mr Lukashenko in the weeks following the election, but a police crackdown and financial support from Russia have propped up his regime.

More than 1,000 people were arrested during a regular rally in Minsk last Sunday.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to flee the country after apparent threats to her children, has called on Belarusians to keep up pressure on Mr Lukashenko.