BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/08/2006

Latvia Expels Diplomat From Belarus' Embassy

Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter

Riga, Latvia (AHN) - Latvia gives a Belarus diplomat 24 hours to leave the country after declaring him persona non grata.

The country says the first secretary of the Belarus embassy in Riga is being kicked out for actions "incompatible with the status of diplomat."

Latvia recently accused Belarus of a serious provocation after Belarus state TV aired footage of apparent gay sex. The story claimed an unnamed Latvian diplomat was involved.

A week prior to the airing of the footage, Belarus police raided the diplomat's home.

Belarus TV said Minsk police found pornographic material while searching the private residence.

Latvia denies any illicit footage was found, saying the video cassettes contained recordings of Belarus TV news bulletins.

Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks tells BBC News the video was an "unprecedented attack" on the diplomat, and was intended to humiliate him.

He says, "It is in breach of the Vienna Convention, because it was a violation of the private space of our diplomat."

Source:

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004414282