The US has stopped reviewing Belarussian visa applications for now, its embassy in Minsk said yesterday, in a diplomatic spat that continues after Washington's envoy temporarily left the country. The US and the EU accuses President Alexander Lukashenko of trampling on human rights and rigging polls. Washington officials have portrayed the ex-Soviet state as the last dictatorship in Europe.

Minsk this week suggested the US cut down staff numbers at its embassy, after Ambassador Karen Stewart departed, following recommendations from the authorities that she leave.

"The US government is at the moment looking at the recommendation of Belarus's Foreign Ministry for a reduction of staff at the US embassy in Minsk," the embassy said in a statement.

"In connection with that review, visa reviews are temporarily suspended because our resources are directed to other priorities at the moment."

The spat began when the US imposed financial sanctions against oil products company Belneftekhim last year, forbidding its citizens to deal with the company.

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