Estonia refused to send ambassador to Belarus

Estonia will not send a new ambassador to Belarus. how informs “Interfax”, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country Eva-Maria Liimets.

“It would be inappropriate to send a new ambassador to Belarus, since Estonia does not consider Lukashenka to be the legitimate head of state, and the usual presentation of credentials could be interpreted as a change in Estonia’s position,” Liimets wrote in an article published this Saturday in the newspaper Eesti Paevaleht.

On July 6, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid appointed a new ambassador, Jaak Lensment, who is to present his credentials to Alexander Lukashenko. Liimets recalled that neither Estonia nor the European Union recognize the results of the presidential elections in Belarus.

According to the Foreign Minister, Estonia has four options: to act as usual, to reduce the level of Estonia’s representation by appointing a chargé d’affaires, not to hand over credentials and leave the ambassador to work in Tallinn, not to take further steps and to continue working with the reduced staff of the embassy.

“The inauguration of the new Estonian ambassador to Belarus, which is to take place in early September, depends on our assessment of the situation there. We also closely consult with our partners and allies, who all see the need to coordinate actions and demonstrate unity, ”Liimets said.