MOSCOW: Belarus said on Monday it was recalling its ambassador in Paris for consultations after ordering French envoy Nicolas de Bouillane de Lacoste to leave the post-Soviet country amid a diplomatic crisis with the EU.

Like other EU countries, France has not recognised Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko’s claim to a sixth presidential term in disputed elections last year.

The opposition in Belarus said the vote was rigged in favour of Lukashenko, who responded to historic anti-government rallies with a brutal crackdown on street protesters, sparking criticism and sanctions from the West.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2021