"Two years after the falsified presidential elections in Belarus, the position of France remains unchanged: it strongly condemns the repression of the Belarusian authorities against the population and calls for the unconditional and immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained in Belarus," the BPN in the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France stated, summing up the results 2022 years.

In the past year, "the Belarusian regime took a new step, becoming an accomplice of the unjustified and illegal aggressive war that Russia is waging against Ukraine," noted the French Foreign Ministry.

"By allowing the Russian armed forces to use the territory of Belarus to attack Ukraine, Mr.

Lukashenka made his country a participant in hostilities on the side of Russia, contrary to our values ​​of freedom and democracy.

France can only condemn this," the ministry emphasized.

France "is still firmly committed to the separation of the Belarusian regime and people."

"Therefore, in 2023, we will continue to support the civil society and the efforts of the Belarusian democratic forces, including with the help of our special envoy

," the Foreign Policy Department of the BPN said.

In August 2022, diplomat Vialene de Vilmer replaced

as the special envoy of France to Belarus .

He arrived in Minsk in November 2020 as an ambassador and presented copies of letters of credence to the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Uladzimir Makei, now deceased.

France refused to hand over letters of credence to Alexander Lukashenko, considering him an illegitimate leader of the country.

After that, the Belarusian authorities withdrew their consent to the appointment of de Lacoste as ambassador to Minsk.

The diplomat received the status of a special representative for Belarus and worked abroad.