«Excuse me, that's not my native language.» Former diplomat Sluńkin recounted how he put the Russian ambassador in his place
Former Belarusian Foreign Ministry official Pavel Sluńkin recalls stories from his diplomatic past on Instagram stories and notes that he usually had good relations with foreign diplomats. But not with Alexander Surikov, Russia's long-serving ambassador to Belarus.
Alexander Surikov. Photo: BelTA
Sluńkin testifies:
«Russia's Ambassador Surikov behaved like a governor. He believed his level was Makei, and everyone else was 'scum' for such a gentleman. For which, in my department, he held the honorary title of 'shithead'.»
And in connection with this arrogance of the Russian diplomat, who, before his appointment, was indeed the governor of Altai Krai until he lost the elections to humorist Mikhail Evdokimov, he recalls one amusing story.
«November 21, 2026, around 10 PM. It's my birthday, but on this day Lavrov arrives in Minsk for an official visit, and I'm at work.
I am with the First Deputy Minister and Russian diplomats, including Surikov, waiting for Lavrov at the airport. An airport employee informed me that the plane had arrived. And I wanted to convey this news to our cheerful company, but not choosing between «приземлился» (landed, formally) and «сел» (sat down, colloquially landed), I blurt out «самолет присел» (the plane "squatted"/sat down a bit).
Surikov makes his favorite power move:
— So, «сел» or «присел»?
— «Сел», yes, «приземлился».
— Well, that's what you should say.
— Excuse me, that's not my native language, so I sometimes make mistakes.
The next day I was preparing to get a severe dressing-down or even pack my things from work, but no one said a word to me. I was very surprised. But then I saw this in the news and had a good laugh.»
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