Taliban Delegation Visits Belarus Cheese Factory, Photos Deleted
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A Taliban delegation visited the Slutz Cheese-Making Plant in central Belarus on August 21, and local outlet Slutzky Krai reported the tour before deleting the story from its website and social media. Photos of the visit circulated widely online and were picked up by opposition media, drawing criticism from exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Belarusian authorities have not publicly commented on the visit, while the Taliban's agriculture ministry posted multiple times about the trip.
Key Facts
- The Taliban delegation visited the Slutz Cheese-Making Plant in central Belarus on August 21, according to a local news report that was later deleted.
- Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya called the visit hypocritical, saying Minsk labels Belarusian activists 'extremists' while welcoming Taliban representatives.
- The Taliban's agriculture ministry posted multiple times about the delegation's visit to Belarus, while Belarusian authorities remained silent.
- Afghan news website Ariana described the delegation as 13 men who spent five days in Belarus to explore modern production technologies.
- More than 700 Belarusians were killed in the Soviet-Afghan war, and some Belarusians noted the Taliban delegation's resemblance to mujahedin fighters.
Deleted Coverage
Local outlet Slutzky Krai reported on the Taliban delegation's visit to the Slutz Cheese-Making Plant on August 21, then deleted the article from its website and social media channels. Another post about the visit appears to have been removed from a website linked to Belarus' National Academy of Sciences. Several photos from the Slutzky Krai report were shared widely online before being deleted and were picked up by opposition media. Commentators noted the contrast between Taliban officials, whose regime enforces strict dress codes for women, and Belarusian women showcasing food and baby formula at the factory.
Opposition Criticism
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya told RFE/RL the photos revealed the hypocrisy of Belarusian authorities, who label Belarusian journalists and activists as extremists while quietly welcoming Taliban representatives. Tsikhanouskaya said Belarusians did not choose isolation or partnership with the Taliban, North Korea, or other dictatorships. She linked the controversy to broader frustration over diplomatic ties being formed by Minsk.
Afghan Reporting
In contrast to near silence from Minsk, the Taliban's agriculture ministry posted multiple times about the delegation's visit to Belarus. Afghan news website Ariana described the visit as a high-level Afghan delegation of 13 men who spent five days in Belarus to explore modern production technologies and the possibility of establishing similar ventures in Afghanistan. Afghan news reports used images showing only males in the frame. Some Belarusians referenced the similarity in appearance of the Taliban delegation to the mujahedin who fought the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, noting that more than 700 Belarusians were killed in that war.
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Taliban Delegation Visits Belarus Cheese Factory, Photos Deleted
