The expulsion of Demiray Oktay and Mehmet Bicak, both attach?s at the Turkish Embassy in Minsk, followed Thursday's arrest of a Belarussian citizen suspected of spying for Turkey.
The suspect, a native of western Belarus, was seized near the Turkish Embassy gate as he attempted to hand over intelligence information to "employees of Turkey's special services," according to Belarus' State Security Committee.
On Friday, the Foreign Ministry said Oktay and Bicak must leave as soon as possible for "activities incompatible with the diplomatic status."
Just hours after Belarus announced the expulsions, the Security Committee said it was holding another Belarussian, also suspected of spying for Turkey.
Committee spokesman Vladimir Kuzhanov would not reveal their names or the type of information involved.
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