Lukashenka Replaces Belarusian Foreign Minister

August 20, 2012

by RFE/RL's Belarus Service

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has dismissed Foreign Minister Syarhey Martynau and replaced him with Uladzimer Makei, the head of the presidential administration.

Martynau had been Belarus's foreign minister since March 2003.

The presidential office said that Martynau was dismissed in connection with his transfer to another position.

No further details were immediately available.

Within hours of the news, the European Union noted in a statement that Makei was on its list of Belarusian individuals subject to EU sanctions.

The EU has imposed travel bans and asset freezes on Lukashenka and other senior Belarusian officials over the regime's crackdown on the opposition and civil society.

With reporting by Reuters, RFE/RL's Belarus Service, and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/belarus-foreign-minister-replaced/24682765.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.