Belarus denounces Czech expulsion of its diplomat
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FILE PHOTO: An European Union flag flutters on the Czech Foreign Ministry headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, February 15, 2016. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
(Reuters) -Belarus, one of Russia's closest allies, denounced a decision by the Czech Republic to expel one of its diplomats, branding it on Tuesday as groundless and unfriendly.
The Belarusian announcement coincided with a statement by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk that authorities in Warsaw had arrested a Belarusian spy and would expel a diplomat who "supported the aggressive action of the Belarusian state against Poland".
Tusk also said that Poland was closing its border with Belarus on Thursday as a result of Russia-led military exercises taking place in Belarus.
"Belarus firmly denounces the decision of the Czech side to declare a member of the Belarusian embassy in Prague persona non grata," the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"This step is groundless and politically motivated and does not help the development of constructive mutual interaction and the normalisation of bilateral relations."
The statement said Belarus reserved the right to take retaliatory measures and urged Czech authorities to take no further hostile actions.
The Czech authorities announced their decision to expel a diplomat on Monday, saying it had "broken up a Belarusian intelligence network being built in Europe".
Belarus's relations with central European countries have become increasingly strained, particularly in connection with the country's support for Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Belarus allowed Russian forces to use its territory to enter Ukraine, but veteran President Alexander Lukashenko has said his country's forces would take no part in it.
The Czech statement said Prague would not tolerate "the abuse of diplomatic cover for secret service activities".
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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