US ambassador to remain in Minsk
Karen Stewart, the US Ambassador to Belarus, will remain in Minsk despite the government's attempt to force her out.
US State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said the ambassador would stay in Minsk while the United State would continue to review the situation, reports Reuters.
The Belarus foreign ministry said it had ordered its own ambassador to Washington, Mikhail Khvostov, to return home to Minsk in protest for US economic sanctions on Belarus. Belarus also said it "strongly recommends that the US ambassador, Karen Stewart, leave our country".
In November 2007, the United States froze the bank accounts of Belarus's oil monopoly Belneftekhim as well as of its subsidaries in Germany, Latvia, Ukraine, Russia and China.
The American businessmen were also told to avoid contacts with the Belarusian company.
US State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said the ambassador would stay in Minsk while the United State would continue to review the situation, reports Reuters.
The Belarus foreign ministry said it had ordered its own ambassador to Washington, Mikhail Khvostov, to return home to Minsk in protest for US economic sanctions on Belarus. Belarus also said it "strongly recommends that the US ambassador, Karen Stewart, leave our country".
In November 2007, the United States froze the bank accounts of Belarus's oil monopoly Belneftekhim as well as of its subsidaries in Germany, Latvia, Ukraine, Russia and China.
The American businessmen were also told to avoid contacts with the Belarusian company.
