Belarus appoints new envoy to Moscow
(Reuters) – Belarus has appointed a brand new ambassador to Russia, state information businesses reported on Friday, as Moscow and Minsk proceed to forge nearer ties amid their mounting isolation from the West.
Moscow is Belarus’ key backer and the 2 sides – formally a part of a borderless “Union State” – have accelerated integration talks in recent times after each have been hit with Western sanctions.
Belarusian chief Alexander Lukashenko’s crackdown on protesters and the opposition after a disputed 2020 presidential election pushed Minsk additional into Moscow’s arms, and he allowed Russia to make use of Belarusian territory as one of many launchpads for its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
In a telephone name with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Lukashenko stated the 2 leaders had agreed to nominate Dmitry Krutoi as Minsk’s new envoy to Moscow, the Belta state information company reported, citing Lukashenko’s press workplace.
Krutoi was deputy head of Belarus’ presidential administration and was beforehand concerned in integration initiatives with Russia – a broad listing of coverage areas the 2 nations have agreed to maneuver nearer collectively on.
Krutoi replaces Vladimir Semashko, a veteran Belarusian diplomat who had been ambassador to Russia since 2018.
(Reporting by Reuters)
