| Міністэрства замежных спраў Рэспублікі Беларусь Ministerstva zamezhnykh spraw Respubliki Belarus | |
 Emblem of the Ministry | |
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 Main office in Minsk | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | September 19, 1991 |
| Preceding agencies | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Belarus |
| Headquarters | Minsk,Belarus 53°53′53″N27°33′49″E / 53.89806°N 27.56361°E /53.89806; 27.56361 |
| Minister responsible | |
| Deputy Ministers responsible | |
| Website | www.mfa.gov.by |
TheMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus (Belarusian:Міністэрства замежных спраў Рэспублікі Беларусь,BGN/PCGN:Ministerstva zamiežnykh spraú Respubliki Bielarus’;Russian:Министерство иностранных дел Республики Беларусь,BGN/PCGN:Ministerstvo inostrannyh del Respubliki Belarus’) is theBelarusian governmentministry which oversees theforeign relations ofBelarus.
The current Minister of Foreign Affairs isMaxim Ryzhenkov, since June 2024.Anatoly Glaz, a diplomat and spokesperson of the Ministry, has voiced criticism of international sanctions against theLukashenko regime and justifiedbans on foreign journalists from working in Belarus.[1]
In December 1920, the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs was established by resolution of the Second Congress of Soviets of Belarus. With the 1922 formation of theUSSR, the functions of representing the Soviet republics in the international arena passed into the national jurisdiction. On 1 February 1944, theSupreme Soviet of the USSR adopted a law on giving theUnion Republics powers in the field of foreign policy. The People’s Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of theBelarusian SSR was then established on 24 March that year as a direct result of a resolution passed by the Supreme Soviet. According to this law, the union republics received the right to enter into direct relations with foreign states, conclude agreements with them and exchange diplomatic and consular missions. The structure of thePeople's Commissariat included the political, protocol and consular departments, the personnel department and the administration of affairs. The staff of the People's Commissariat totaled 27 people. By decree of thePresidium of theSupreme Soviet of Belarus on 26 March 1946, the People's Commissariat was transformed into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Exactly 12 years later, the Council of Ministers gave the order for the ministry to represent the BSSR at theUnited Nations.[2]
On 19 September 1991, the ministry become known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, effective on this day from a national law adopted at the extraordinary session of the Supreme Soviet. The ministry then became subordinate to theCouncil of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus. By a decree of PresidentAlexander Lukashenko on 4 December 1998, the ministry was reorganized by abolishing three ministries: foreign affairs, CIS affairs and foreign economic relations. The new most recent regulation on the ministry was approved bydecree in July 2006. As of December 2008[update], the Republic of Belarus maintains diplomatic relations with 164 countries of the world, in 47 of which 60 diplomatic missions are opened. Among them are 45 embassies, 7 permanent missions to international organizations, 7 general consulates and 1 consulate.[when?][citation needed] Twelve branches[clarification needed] of the embassies of the Republic of Belarus also operate abroad.
The structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus as of August 2019:[5]
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