ISTANBUL

Belarus on Tuesday condemned Poland’s decision to expel a Belarusian diplomat and suspend border traffic during the Zapad-2025 military exercises, calling the measures provocative.

“We believe that this is an element of a provocative policy coordinated with the Czech side against the Belarusian state with the aim of further escalating tensions both in interstate relations and in the region as a whole,” the Foreign Ministry in Minsk said in a statement.

It added: “These measures will not go unanswered. The decision of the Belarusian side will be made public in the near future.”

The ministry said it also lodged a verbal protest with Poland’s charge d’affaires in Minsk, Krzysztof Ozanna, over Warsaw’s decision to suspend movement across the state border during the Russian-Belarusian military drills.

The Zapad-2025 exercises, involving joint forces of Russia and Belarus, are scheduled to be held in Belarus from Sept. 12 to 16.