"The Lukashenko regime in Belarus has decided to expel our ambassador," Bildt told reporters, Reuters reports. "They have made accusations against the ambassador. They are groundless. Fundamentally, this is about Sweden being engaged in democracy and human rights in Belarus."

Last month a plane chartered by Swedish public relations firm Studio Total dropped hundreds of teddy bears over Belarus in a pro-democracy stunt, prompting President Alexander Lukashenko -- described as Europe's last dictator -- to sack his air defence chief and the head of the border guards.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said the accusations against Ambassador Stefan Eriksson were "ridiculous" and "groundless".