MINSK/RIGA. May 24 (Interfax) - Belarus is expelling Latvian Ambassador Einars Semanis due to an incident with the Belarusian state flag in Riga, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said.
"We demanded that the Latvian authorities conduct an investigation, apologize, and put the Belarusian state flag back in its place. A relevant note of protest was given to the ambassador. We cannot leave such provocative actions without an answer. That's why the ambassador was requested to leave within 24 hours. It was also recommended that all diplomatic and administrative and technical personnel leave Belarus within 48 hours and that one administrative and technical employee stay here to take care of the building," Makei told journalists on Monday.
Earlier on Monday, the state flag of Belarus outside the building of the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija alongside the flags of other countries participating in the 2021 IIHF World Championship was replaced with the historical white-red-white flag. Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics and Riga Mayor and City Council head Martins Stakis replaced the flag outside the hotel where the players competing in the championship, including the Belarusian ones, are staying.
According to Stakis, this action is an initiative of the Riga City Council, and the Belarusian opposition entrusted it with it. It is aimed at expressing support for all the people subjected to repressions by the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko, he said.
Riga and Minsk were supposed to co-host the 2021 IIHF World Championship, but Belarus was deprived of this right due to the authorities' crackdown on civilians' peaceful protests.