France's ambassador to Belarus, Nicolas de Bouillane de Lacoste, has left the country after the authorities in Minsk demanded that he depart by Monday, the embassy has announced without detailing the reason for the expulsion.

Local media reported that Ambassador de Lacoste had never met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to present his credentials. Instead, they had been submitted to Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei, according to the French embassy.