Belarus has appointed a new ambassador to Uzbekistan.

President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has appointed Alexander Ogarodnikov as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Uzbekistan. This information has been officially confirmed by the press service of the Belarusian leader.

Alexander Ogarodnikov is taking on his new responsibilities, succeeding Leonid Marinich, who led the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan since 2018. Thus, the nearly seven-year term of L. Marinich as head of the Belarusian diplomatic representation in Tashkent comes to an end.

Prior to his ambassadorial appointment, Alexander Ogarodnikov served as the Deputy Minister of Industry of the Republic of Belarus. His experience in the industrial sector is expected to contribute to the further development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. The new ambassador is anticipated to continue the course of strengthening bilateral relations in various areas, including industry, agriculture, science, and culture.

In the near future, A. Ogarodnikov will present his credentials to the leadership of Uzbekistan and officially begin his diplomatic functions. More detailed information about the new ambassador's plans will be available following his official assumption of office. The appointment of the new ambassador underscores the importance that Belarus places on developing relations with Uzbekistan.