Slovakian ambassador, who visited Minsk parade, receives award from Lukashenka

Ambassador of Slovakia Jozef Migas, who along with Hungarian envoy were the only senior diplomats from EU member states attending the military parade in Minsk on May 9 during the COVID19 pandemic, has received the Order of Frantsysk Skaryna from Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

The decree to award Mr. Migas was signed back in mid-June, while the awarding ceremony took place on July 6. Jozef Migas was recognized "for his significant personal contribution to the strengthening of friendly relations and cooperation between Belarus and Slovakia," the Office of the President said.

The state news agency BELTA reports that while handing the Order to the Ambassador, Lukashenka thanked him for being at the May 9 parade. The Belarusian leader mentioned that his "courageous act" had "controversial consequences" for Jozef Migas.

Jozef Migas said back in May that since he was "the son of a partisan" and "anti-fascist," he could not refuse to attend the parade. However, the ambassador had not consulted with the Slovak Foreign Ministry and eventually had to resign. Lukashenka described the situation with the resignation of Migas as an "international scandal."

During the awarding ceremony, Jozef Migas said that if the situation had happened again, he would have done the same.