Sweden on Friday declared two diplomats from Belarus persona non grata after its ambassador to Minsk was expelled for his human rights work in the authoritarian-led country. Belarus has also been informed that its incoming ambassador to Sweden was not welcome, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said.
Bildt said he had been in touch with the European Union's top diplomat, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, and informed other EU member states about the decision. Authoritarian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has been criticised for human rights abuses, and the EU has imposed sanctions.