The Big Ragu
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2002
- Messages
- 30,281
Questions: 1) You can really declare a person persona non grata? 2) Who woulda thunk Latvia and Belarus would be getting pissy with each other?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5239880.stm
Latvia expels Belarus' diplomat
Latvia has declared a diplomat from Belarus persona non grata, giving the official 24 hours to leave the country.
It said the first secretary of Belarus' embassy in Riga was being expelled for actions "incompatible with the status of a diplomat", without elaborating.
The move comes after Latvia accused Belarus of a serious provocation over the treatment of one of its diplomats.
On Sunday Belarus' TV showed what appeared to be footage of gay sex, saying Latvia's diplomat was involved.
A week ago, before the controversial footage was aired, Belarus police had raided the diplomat's private residence.
Belarus state TV claimed that pornographic material was found during the search.
Latvia denies the claim and says the video cassettes seized by the police in Minsk contained recordings of Belarus TV news bulletins.
On Tuesday, Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks told the BBC News website the video was an "unprecedented attack" on the diplomat, aiming to humiliate him.
"It is in breach of the Vienna Convention, because it was a violation of the private space of our diplomat."
Mr Pabriks he had not seen the film, but that it was some kind of compilation, possibly made with hidden camera.
The unnamed diplomat has since returned to Latvia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5239880.stm
Latvia expels Belarus' diplomat
Latvia has declared a diplomat from Belarus persona non grata, giving the official 24 hours to leave the country.
It said the first secretary of Belarus' embassy in Riga was being expelled for actions "incompatible with the status of a diplomat", without elaborating.
The move comes after Latvia accused Belarus of a serious provocation over the treatment of one of its diplomats.
On Sunday Belarus' TV showed what appeared to be footage of gay sex, saying Latvia's diplomat was involved.
A week ago, before the controversial footage was aired, Belarus police had raided the diplomat's private residence.
Belarus state TV claimed that pornographic material was found during the search.
Latvia denies the claim and says the video cassettes seized by the police in Minsk contained recordings of Belarus TV news bulletins.
On Tuesday, Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks told the BBC News website the video was an "unprecedented attack" on the diplomat, aiming to humiliate him.
"It is in breach of the Vienna Convention, because it was a violation of the private space of our diplomat."
Mr Pabriks he had not seen the film, but that it was some kind of compilation, possibly made with hidden camera.
The unnamed diplomat has since returned to Latvia.
