Polish President Andrzej Duda has skipped the official group photo at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, with Polish broadcaster Polsat saying the decision was driven by the presence of the authoritarian ruler of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Lukashenka has been condemned by many Western leaders for his repressive domestic policies and alignment with Russia.
"This is a symbolic moment of the so-called family photo, when the leaders of the countries participating in the summit stand shoulder to shoulder and pose for a joint photo. The president boycotted this moment due to the fact that the leader of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, was also there," a source close to Duda's delegation told Polsat.
"This is a symbolic disassociation, due to, among other things, Belarus's involvement in the developments in Ukraine."
At a previous summit in Dubai, leaders from Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia similarly chose to opt out of being in a photo that included Lukashenka.
SEE ALSO: Azerbaijan Eyes Prestige Boost From Hosting COP29, Despite The CriticsThe incident underscores Poland’s position as a staunch critic of Belarus's policies and as a frontline state supporting Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion.
The COP29 summit, which kicked off in the Azerbaijani capital on November 11, is a critical gathering for addressing climate change, but the event also reflects broader geopolitical divides.
Lukashenka's presence contrasts with the notable absence of major Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.