How France Reacted to the MFA Decision Regarding Its Ambassador in Minsk

Paris has labeled as unfounded the decision of Minsk to revoke the appointment of France's ambassador and announced "proportionate measures against the Belarusian diplomatic representation in France." This was reported on October 18 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As emphasized by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the departure of Ambassador Nicolas de Bouillan de Lacoste was due to the "unilateral decision of the Belarusian authorities," who revoked the appointment issued to the ambassador on August 3, 2020. This is because the French ambassador did not present his credentials to Alexander Lukashenko, Paris stated.

"In accordance with the common European position on not recognizing the legality of the results of the presidential elections held in August 2020 (officially announced), the French ambassador has indeed not presented his credentials to Mr. Lukashenko. A copy of the letters has been submitted to the Belarusian Foreign Minister in accordance with diplomatic rules," the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified.

France, like the entire European Union, does not recognize the results of the elections in Belarus held on August 9, 2020, nor the legality of Alexander Lukashenko's re-election as president. In connection with the suppression of peaceful democratic protests and repression against the opposition, the EU has imposed several packages of sanctions against Belarus.

It should be noted that the French ambassador Nicolas de Lacoste did not complete the procedure for assuming office and left Belarus; the head of the diplomatic mission in Paris, Igor Fisenko, was also summoned for consultations. This was reported on Monday by the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The head of the French diplomatic representation did not express willingness to complete the process of taking up the position of extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador in the Republic of Belarus, which is provided for by international law and generally accepted practice. In this regard, we were forced to inform our French counterparts about the expiration of the appointment contract issued to him by the Belarusian authorities," the ministry stated. According to the MFA, de Lacoste has already "left the country." For his part, the Belarusian ambassador in France, Igor Fisenko, has been "recalled to Minsk for consultations."