The US government on Wednesday (26/03) expelled Belarus first secretary and consul Vladimir Gramyka "in retaliation" for the expulsion of an American diplomat in Minsk, the State Department said. Gramyka was expelled in retaliation for the "unjustifiable and unjustified" expulsion of US first secretary to Minsk Serge Alexandrov.
Alexandrov was arrested at a protest against Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday (23/03), which had been declared illegal under restrictions imposed on March 6 and was broken up by riot police.
SHOWS:
MINSK, BELARUS, 27/3
US embassy;
CU embassy sign;
MS of ambassador's wife getting into car;
CA American flag;
MS farewells
Ambassador Kenneth Yalowitz getting into car;
car driving out of gates;
shakes hands through window with official outside car
SOT Janet Demiray, US Embassy Press Secretary, (in English): "Yes, Ambassador Kenneth Yalowitz was recalled by the Department of State for consultations about the situation in Belarus. He will arrive in Washington later today and the date of his return is not yet set. This was in connection with the recent events in Belarus, in particular the unjustified and unwarranted detention and expulsion of the First Secretary of the American Embassy, Mr Alexandrov."
People standing outside embassy building
SOT Janet Demiray "The Department of State announced yesterday that Mr Vladimir Gramyko, First Secretary of the Embassy of Belarus in Washington has been declared persona non grata and has been asked to leave. This is again in retaliation for the unwarranted expulsion of Mr Alexandrov."
The US government on Wednesday (26/03) expelled Belarus first secretary and consul Vladimir Gramyka "in retaliation" for the expulsion of an American diplomat in Minsk, the State Department said. Gramyka was expelled in retaliation for the "unjustifiable and unjustified" expulsion of US first secretary to Minsk Serge Alexandrov.
Alexandrov was arrested at a protest against Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday (23/03), which had been declared illegal under restrictions imposed on March 6 and was broken up by riot police.
SHOWS:
MINSK, BELARUS, 27/3
US embassy;
CU embassy sign;
MS of ambassador's wife getting into car;
CA American flag;
MS farewells
Ambassador Kenneth Yalowitz getting into car;
car driving out of gates;
shakes hands through window with official outside car
SOT Janet Demiray, US Embassy Press Secretary, (in English): "Yes, Ambassador Kenneth Yalowitz was recalled by the Department of State for consultations about the situation in Belarus. He will arrive in Washington later today and the date of his return is not yet set. This was in connection with the recent events in Belarus, in particular the unjustified and unwarranted detention and expulsion of the First Secretary of the American Embassy, Mr Alexandrov."
People standing outside embassy building
SOT Janet Demiray "The Department of State announced yesterday that Mr Vladimir Gramyko, First Secretary of the Embassy of Belarus in Washington has been declared persona non grata and has been asked to leave. This is again in retaliation for the unwarranted expulsion of Mr Alexandrov."
