Belarusian ambassador presents credentials to Russian president

The ceremony took place in the Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

The ambassadors of 28 other states, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Canada, Japan, Italy, Israel, Spain, Argentina, the Netherlands, Belgium, Zimbabwe, Kenya and others, also presented their credentials. Traditionally, this event is held several times a year. However, the current ceremony is the first in 2024. Last time Vladimir Putin received credentials from incoming ambassadors of foreign countries on 4 December 2023.

The Belarusian ambassador presented a copy of his credentials to the Russian Foreign Ministry on 8 July 2024 and officially assumed the office of ambassador of Belarus to Russia.

Receiving the credentials, Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly described relations with the states whose ambassadors participated in the ceremony. "I am glad to see the ambassadors of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan. These states are our closest neighbors and friends, strategic partners and allies. We met with their leaders quite recently, during the CIS summit in Moscow in October. Traditionally, we will meet at the end of December to sum up the results of the year and outline plans for the future," he said.

"In 2025 we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War together. The peoples of all CIS countries contributed to it" he stressed.

Addressing the Belarusian ambassador, Vladimir Putin pointed out that the fraternal relations between Russia and Belarus have recently gained strong momentum. "By the way, in December we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Union State Treaty. Minsk will host the meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Belarus-Russia Union State dedicated to this anniversary," the Russian president noted.

"I take this occasion to wish our Belarusian friends a successful conduct of the presidential election which is due in January next year," he added.

During the ceremony, Vladimir Putin said that Russia is open for mutually beneficial cooperation with all states based on the principles of equal rights, non-interference in internal affairs and strict compliance with international law. "Moscow stands for the formation of a fair system of global economic relations, free from unfair competition, unilateral illegal sanctions and politically motivated restrictions," he emphasized. The Russian leader assured that Russia does not seek confrontation and believed that a balanced view of cooperation would prevail in the West.