The European Union will return ambassadors to Belarus after Easter

The European Union is going to return its ambassadors to Minsk, who were recalled a month ago. Brussels explains this by the need to “increase the efficiency of work” with Belarus. The local opposition accuses the Europeans of betraying democratic values and compromising with President Alexander Lukashenko.

The informed Brussels publication EUobserver reported on the upcoming return of the European Union ambassadors. According to him, ambassadors of EU member states must return to Belarus after Catholic Easter, which falls on April 8 this year.

EUobserver, citing sources in European diplomatic circles, claims that the decision to return the ambassadors to Minsk was made last week at a closed meeting in the European Union. One of the ambassadors of EU member states told the publication that he has not yet received instructions to return to Minsk, but “is waiting for them on Monday, April 2.”

The decision to return ambassadors to Minsk in Brussels is explained by the need to “work more effectively in Belarus, ensuring higher quality reporting.” Relations between the EU and Belarus sharply deteriorated at the end of February, when Brussels tightened sanctions against Minsk over human rights violations and persecution of the opposition. In particular, the list of Belarusian officials prohibited from entering EU countries was expanded. In response, the Ambassador of Poland to Belarus, Leszek Sherepka, and the head of the EU Delegation, Maira Mora, were invited to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, where they were offered to return to their homeland. Ambassadors of the remaining 15 EU countries accredited in the Belarusian capital left Minsk behind the Polish and European Union diplomats as a sign of solidarity.

The Belarusian opposition perceived the news about the return of European ambassadors to Minsk as a betrayal. As co-chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Pavel Sevyarynets told Kommersant, in this story President Alexander Lukashenko looks in a very favorable light. “A macho man who forced all of Europe to give in,” he explained. Belarusian expert Yuri Khaschevatsky expressed himself even harsher, recalling Mr. Lukashenko’s phrase that “European politicians have no balls.” He warned European politicians, saying that usually Alexander Lukashenko, after receiving new concessions, “becomes bolder.”

As Pavel Sevyarynets believes, the return of EU ambassadors is caused by the conclusion of a package agreement between Minsk and Brussels, which has been actively discussed lately. According to the version under discussion, Alexander Lukashenko promised the European Union to release political prisoners in exchange for the return of diplomats.

Brussels assures that this is not so. A source told EUobserver that the return of the heads of European foreign policy missions to Belarus “should not be seen as a political gift” and that “the EU is ready to impose new sanctions if the situation does not improve.”

Vladislav Kagan, Minsk

Minsk is worth a mission