Baltic States – CIS, Belarus, Latvia

Lukashenko has stripped two other diplomats of the diplomatic ranks of ambassadors - Pavel Latushko and Igor Leshchenya.

Markovich has been fired for "unsatisfactory performance of his official duties", while Latushko and Leshchenya lost their diplomatic ranks for "activities defaming the state (diplomatic) service".

Markovich on August 18 was called to the Latvian Foreign Ministry and was handed a note in relation to detention of Latvian citizens. He was also required explanations in relation to Lukashenko's statements that the protests in Belarus had been financed, including from Latvia.

In August, it was reported that Lukashneko's visit planned for April 2021 has been removed from the agenda. Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics explained this with the events in Belarus and the fact that Latvia and other EU member states did not recognize the result of the Belarusian president elections.

Latushko was the ambassador to France in 2012-2019. Later he was the head of Janka Kupala National Academic Theater in Minsk, but was fired after he had condemned violence against protesters. After Latushko jointed the opposition's Coordinating Council, Lukashenko announced that he had stepped over the "red line".

Former ambassador to Slovakia Leshchenya also had voiced support to protesters and called on the authorities to invest all cases of torture and beating up of the protesters. He resigned from the post of the ambassador in late August.