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Belarusian Ambassador to Slovakia Ihar Liashchenia was the first high-ranking official to support the protests. He had been in the diplomatic service for 29 years, and at one time was an assistant to the president of Belarus. Ihar Liashchenia tendered his resignation after recording a video message in which he supported the peaceful protests. A week later the diplomat recorded a second appeal - in which he called for an investigation of all known cases of beatings and torture of civilians by security forces. Several other ambassadors followed the example of Liashchenia, one of the country's most experienced diplomats.
On 11 August 2021, Ihar Liashchenia was arrested and placed in a temporary detention center in connection with a criminal case under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (group actions grossly violating public order). Ihar Liashchenia was released on 20 August but remained subject to travel restrictions.
18 December 2020, Minsk, Belarus. Photo by Nadia Buzhan.