The police in Minsk have detained former Belarusian Ambassador to Slovakia Igor Leshchenya, the Belsat.eu website reported on Thursday. Leshchenya was the first head of a diplomatic mission to publicly support last year's protests against President Alexander Lukashenko's regime. He resigned from the post of ambassador to Slovakia on August 18, 2020. Slovakia offered to grant him political asylum. Leshchenya declined this offer. On Thursday, Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO) called on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to release all political prisoners, including the former ambassador to Slovakia. "The arrest of former Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia Igor Leshchenya, almost a year since his resignation, attests to the ruthlessness of the regime employed against its own people," stated Heger. The Slovak Prime Minister finds the regime of President Lukashenko undemocratic, illegitimate and violent, citing the fixed 2020 presidential race, the escalation of violence, extensive arrests and the imprisoning of journalists, civic activists and other people with views differing from those held by the Belarusian President. "Slovakia won't stop exerting pressure along with its partners within the EU to make sure that the people of Belarus enjoy the prospects of living in a safe, democratic and free country. We're ready for another round of sanctions," assured Heger.
The Belarusian authorities raided the homes of more than 30 delegates of an opposition platform, including Leshchenya's house. They subsequently arrested him among others, and he is now in custody.
Source: TASR
