Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has appointed a new ambassador to Uzbekistan.

The post will be taken by Alexander Ogorodnikov, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Industry of Belarus.

Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhenkov explained the decision as part of a strategy to strengthen key areas of the country’s foreign policy by assigning highly experienced personnel.

“Alongside our primary trade partners — Russia and China — it is essential to enhance relations with CIS countries. Among the most significant are Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan,” stated Dmitry Krutoy, Head of the Presidential Administration of Belarus.

Lukashenko emphasized that Uzbekistan offers extensive opportunities for diplomatic and economic engagement.

It is worth noting that Ogorodnikov will succeed Leonid Marinich, who served as Ambassador to Uzbekistan since 2018.