EU foreign ministers gathering in Luxembourg have approved a set of tougher sanctions targeting the sectors that will impact the Belarusian regime. The US, Canada, and the UK also imposed new punitive measures on Minsk. This was reported by Rikard Jozwiak, Radio Liberty correspondent, in his Twitter account.
“EU for mins have taken the decision to impose asset freezes & visa ban on 78 people & 8 entities. a handful of businessmen but also members of #Lukashenka's family, rectors, prosecutors, judges, police officers & high ranking military. #Belarus. in official journal later today,” Rikard Rozvyak tweeted.
According to the press service of the European Council, this decision was made in view of the escalation of serious human rights violations in Belarus and the violent repression of civil society, democratic opposition, and journalists. Additionally, seven individuals and one entity subject to this new round of restrictive measures were designated in connection to the forced and unlawful landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk, Belarus, on 23 May 2021, endangering aviation safety, and the detention by Belarusian authorities of journalist Raman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega.
“Among those targeted are also several prominent business figures who support and benefit from the Lukashenko regime. These sanctions therefore send a further strong signal to the backers of the regime, that their continued support for Aleksandr Lukashenko comes at a substantial cost,” European Council stated.
As of June 21, EU restrictive measures on Belarus apply to a total of 166 persons and 15 entities.
“Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to those listed. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which impedes them from entering or transiting through EU territories,” the message reads.
The goal of these sanctions is to put pressure on the Belarusian political leadership to initiate a genuine and inclusive national dialogue with broader society and to avoid further repression.
“The EU stands ready to support a peaceful, democratic transition with a variety of instruments, including a comprehensive plan of economic support for a democratic Belarus. We also stand ready to adopt further measures, including on other economic actors, if the situation in Belarus does not improve,” the statement concluded.
The EU does not stand alone in its response to the crisis in Belarus; along with the EU new punitive measures were applied in the US, Canada and the UK also imposed new punitive measures on Minsk.