Belarusian Ambassador Resigns After Supporting Protesters

Belarusian Ambassador Resigns After Supporting Protesters
Belarus ambassador to Slovakia Igor Leshchenya declaring solidarity with protesters in belarus, seen in the image taken from a video released on Aug. 15, 2020. Nashaniva via Reuters
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MINSK, Belarus—The Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia, who supported protesters rallying against his country’s authoritarian president, said on Tuesday he has handed in his resignation, a move indicating growing dissent at a high level of government.

Igor Leshchenya said in an interview that it was “a logical move” after he recorded a video statement supporting unprecedented protests that have roiled Belarus for nine days in a row since the Aug. 9 presidential election that gave a sixth term to longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko.