"It is a recognition of Belarusian civil society and the people who have long wanted to emphasize their country's national identity and sovereignty," Linde writes in the debate article.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thus abandons a term that can be associated with Russia since the ending "intoxication" does not refer to Russia, writes Linde. Rus is a term in areas of Eastern Europe that during the Middle Ages was populated by East Slavic people.
The message comes in connection with Linde visiting Minsk together with his Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto.
The Foreign Ministry says that the same "correction", from Belarus to Belarus, has been made in, for example, English and French in the past.