Diplomats who have served in Belarus say Lukashenko is the ultimate enigma. Certainly, using Russian money to keep his state-dominated economy alive. But too simplistically dismissed as a Russian lackey.

The move comes amid outrage about the recent incident in which Minsk forced an EU-registered passenger plane to land in the country with the sole goal of arresting a 26-year old independent journalist.

The move comes as Minsk faces further isolation by the European Union after the incident involving a routine flyover of its airspace.