Lukashenko opines on Ukrainian official-cover operatives in Belarus

At the meeting in Minsk on 24 March Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave his take on the Ukrainians who engaged in espionage in Belarus using a diplomatic cover, BelTA has learned.

“There are plenty of them, international spies. A whole bunch, even in our Ukraine over there. We identified 12 of them. They could just come here and see things. Instead, they chose to engage in espionage and do harm to Belarus. We have kicked them out, these Ukrainian official-cover operatives who used a diplomatic cover,” the head of state said.

As BelTA has reported, Belarus has asked some Ukrainian diplomats to leave the country and closed the Consulate General of Ukraine in Brest. The Ukrainian Embassy will continue to work in Belarus in the 1+4 format: the ambassador and four employees.

"In full compliance with Article 11 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Republic of Belarus has decided to reduce the number of Ukrainian diplomats on its territory," press secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Anatoly Glaz said.

This step, according to him, is aimed at stopping non-diplomatic activities of a number of employees of the Ukrainian foreign missions. They have been asked to leave our country within 72 hours.