2023-08-10 04:42:30
Three years following the violent crackdown on mass protests in Belarus by ruler Alexander Lukashenko, the United States has imposed further sanctions on the country. As the State Department announced in Washington yesterday, business relationships with the state airline Belavia would be punished.
In addition, 101 Belarusian civil servants, judges and other people responsible for undermining democracy are being refused entry.
In the presidential election in Belarus in August 2020, Lukashenko was confirmed for his sixth term according to the official result. This triggered mass protests, which were brutally suppressed.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US “continues to stand with the brave Belarusian people who aspire to a country founded on the rule of law, respect for human rights and an accountable, democratically elected government.”
Sanctions also from Canada
At the same time, Canada also announced new sanctions once morest Belarus. Coordinated measures are planned by the EU, Great Britain and New Zealand, according to the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said there might be no impunity for human rights violations. In addition, the support “of the Belarusian regime for the brazen actions of the Russian leadership will not go unpunished”.
Lukashenko is considered the closest ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In connection with the Ukraine war and because of the suppression of the Belarusian opposition, the EU has already imposed sanctions on Minsk several times since 2020.
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