Putin changes ambassador in Belarus

Dmitry Mezentsev has been appointed as Russian Ambassador to Belarus, according to the edict signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin wrote in a statement on its official website.

Mr Putin also signed another edict dismissing Mikhail Babich from the duties of Russian ambassador in Belarus and the special representative of the Russian president on the development of trade and economic cooperation with Belarus. Mezentsev was not appointed for the position of the special representative.

Babich served in Belarus only for eight months. Russian media suggested that Belarus President Lukashenka had personally asked Putin to replace the ambassador.