Minsk recalls ambassador to Sweden – reports

January 5, Pozirk. Belarus and Sweden have recalled their envoys for consultations, Radyjo Svaboda reported, quoting the Nordic country’s foreign ministry.

Eva Sundquist has served as chargé d’affaires in Minsk since September 2022. The Swedish embassy in Minsk continues operation as usual, while the Belarusian ambassador left Stockholm, the Swedish foreign ministry said.

Alaksandar Łukašenka appointed Dźmitryj Mirončyk as ambassador to Sweden in May 2018.

On November 6, Stockholm named a special envoy for relations with Belarus’ pro-democracy forces. On the same day, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the country recognized Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja as the winner in the 2020 presidential election in Belarus. That statement prompted Minsk to recall its ambassador for consultations, RFE/RL Belarus Service said.

A European Union member, Sweden supports Europe’s sanctions against Belarus. On the Day of Solidarity with Belarusian Political Prisoners, the Swedish foreign ministry voiced support for “all those persecuted by the Łukašenka regime for political reasons.”

However, on April 10, Warsaw’s envoy to the EU said that work on new EU sanctions against Belarus was not progressing because of the fertilizers issue and the “passivity” of Sweden. “The Swedes virtually do nothing about it,” Andrzej Sadoś said.

“We were very disappointed about a lack of ambition in terms of sanctions against Belarus, so needed because of reprisals against the opposition in that country, its participation in the war on the Russian side, as well as its plans to host nuclear weapons,” he said.

Sweden was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Belarus. The two countries established diplomatic relations in January 1992.