Belarus’ Ambassador To Argentina Resigned On Lukashenko’s Inauguration Day, Explains Why
Belarusfeed
5 October 2020, 19:47
Belarus’ Ambassador to Argentina and the Republic of Chile, Paraguay and Peru with concurrent accreditation Vladimir Astapenko resigned on the day of Alexander Lukashenko’s inauguration. The ambassador explained TUT.BY the reasons for his actions.
“Indeed, on 23 September, I submitted an application for dismissal from my post by mutual consent in accordance with clause 1 of part two of Article 35 of the Labour Code of the Republic of Belarus. Now I am waiting for the adoption of the corresponding decree, until this moment I formally remain in the service. I believe in a better future for the Belarusian people!” said Vladimir Astapenko.
When asked what made him take such a decision, Ambassador Astapenko drew attention to the date of the application’s submission. Recall that the inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko took place on 23 September, neither the date nor the venue were announced in advance.
Vladimir Astapenko is a career diplomat, who began his work as the third secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Byelorussian SSR. He held the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, worked in a number of embassies. In 2018, he was appointed Ambassador of Belarus to the Argentine Republic, and later – Ambassador to Chile, Paraguay and Peru concurrently.
The senior adviser of the Belarusian Embassy in Latvia Andrey Avramenko resigned a few days ago too. Avramenko announced his resignation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on his social media networks. Recall that after the presidential elections, a number of diplomats left the Foreign Ministry because of their citizenship.
The ambassadors of Belarus in Spain, Latvia and Slovakia lost their posts and/or diplomatic ranks. Head of the history and archives department of the Foreign Ministry Vyacheslav Kazachenok, who had held a solitary picket against the violence in Belarus, was fired from the agency. Head of the Department of North America and Western Europe Andrey Bushilo, and the first secretary of the European Department of the Foreign Ministry Pavel Slyunkin resigned.
5 October 2020, 19:47
Ambassador of Belarus to Argentina and the Republic of Chile concurrently Vladimir Astapenko during the presentation of his credentials to President of Chile Sebastian Piñera, October 2019. Photo: Belarusian Foreign Ministry
“Indeed, on 23 September, I submitted an application for dismissal from my post by mutual consent in accordance with clause 1 of part two of Article 35 of the Labour Code of the Republic of Belarus. Now I am waiting for the adoption of the corresponding decree, until this moment I formally remain in the service. I believe in a better future for the Belarusian people!” said Vladimir Astapenko.
When asked what made him take such a decision, Ambassador Astapenko drew attention to the date of the application’s submission. Recall that the inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko took place on 23 September, neither the date nor the venue were announced in advance.
Vladimir Astapenko is a career diplomat, who began his work as the third secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Byelorussian SSR. He held the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, worked in a number of embassies. In 2018, he was appointed Ambassador of Belarus to the Argentine Republic, and later – Ambassador to Chile, Paraguay and Peru concurrently.
The senior adviser of the Belarusian Embassy in Latvia Andrey Avramenko resigned a few days ago too. Avramenko announced his resignation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on his social media networks. Recall that after the presidential elections, a number of diplomats left the Foreign Ministry because of their citizenship.
The ambassadors of Belarus in Spain, Latvia and Slovakia lost their posts and/or diplomatic ranks. Head of the history and archives department of the Foreign Ministry Vyacheslav Kazachenok, who had held a solitary picket against the violence in Belarus, was fired from the agency. Head of the Department of North America and Western Europe Andrey Bushilo, and the first secretary of the European Department of the Foreign Ministry Pavel Slyunkin resigned.
