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VILNIUS, Apr 25, BNS – Lithuania's Ambassador to Belarus Edminas Bagdonas is going back to Minsk on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"I can confirm that the ambassador of Lithuania is returning to Minsk today," spokesman for the ministry Mindaugas Lasas told BNS.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Azubalis underlined that the EU decided to act solidarity.

"The EU made the decision on a solidary and united return to Minsk by the end of this week. The EU has demonstrated that the principle "divide and rule" will not work in the relations with it. We hope that Belarusian authorities will take real and fundamental steps to improve relation with the EU, with the release and rehabilitation of remaining political prisoners being the first one," the minister said in a commentary sent to BNS.

Bagdonas was recalled to Vilnius amid the European Union's (EU) move to withdraw all of its ambassadors from Belarus in the end of February after Minsk decided to expel two diplomats in response to new sanctions for violation of human rights and persecution of opposition.

Last month, EU foreign ministers introduced sanctions against 29 companies owned by three Belarusian oligarchs linked with the Lukashenko regime and include further 12 persons in the so-called “black list.”

The sanctions were for the first time introduced against companies of oligarchs Yuri Chizh and Anatoly Ternavsky, new companies of businessmen Vladimir Peftiyev have also been blacklisted. The companies, titled as “Lukashenko's pockets”, will be banned from financial operations in the EU.

EU diplomats say further steps will depend on whether Minsk allows return of all recalled ambassadors. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis said last week that EU ambassadors would return to Belarus altogether.

Earlier this month, the EU applauded Belarus' decision to this month release two opposition figures – former presidential candidate Andrey Sanikov and his election campaign assistant Dmitry Bondarenko. The EU also demanded release of the remaining political prisoners.

The Czech Republic officially announced its plans on Wednesday to send its ambassador back to Minsk.