Ruslan Varankov

Ruslan Varankov is a Belarusian diplomat who became the press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus in April 2023, succeeding Anatoly Glaz. He has a background in international law, having studied at Belarusian State University, and has worked in various capacities within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as a legal advisor at the Belarusian mission to the United Nations. Varankov has also served as the Consul General of Belarus in New York and Ho Chi Minh City. He is noted for adopting a confrontational communication style reminiscent of his predecessor and has recently sparked controversy for his provocative remarks and actions, including gifting an axe to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.