EU condemns Belarus for air raids, human rights abuses | European Union News

The European Union (EU) has imposed economic sanctions on Belarus in response to what the bloc called “increased human rights abuses”, including the arrest of Roman Protasevich.

Thursday’s sanctions are aimed at the economy and the plot to assassinate President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies.

Protasevich, a journalist and critic, was arrested along with his friend on May 23 after Belarusian air traffic controllers ordered a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania to Minsk.

The most recent sanctions are for industry, including potash – a mixture of fertilizers, tobacco, and oil, and are much more complex than in the past.

“Commercial oil, potassium products [potash], as well as materials used in the manufacture or manufacture of tobacco are prohibited, “the EU said in a statement.

The risks also include banning the sale of Belarus weapons and software that can be used to monitor internet and mobile phones.

Belarus’s access to major EU markets will be repossessed and deposits with the European Investment Bank have been suspended.

EU pressure on Minsk

The EU has been imposing sanctions since Lukashenko won a sixth term last August in a by-election.

The 27-nation bloc, which sees Lukashenko’s victory as a fraud last year, has been the strongest since its inception in Ryanair, and has used migrants and refugees to force neighboring Lithuania, which has provided security for its opponents. Belarus and is one of Lukashenko’s most vocal opponents.

The diplomat told Reuters news agency that the idea of ​​setting up a more rigorous approach was made with astonishing speed, indicating the magnitude of the problem.

On Monday, EU foreign ministers imposed travel bans and suspensions of 78 Belarusian officials and cut off the assets of eight “corporations”, usually companies, banks, or corporations.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the measures would help “Belarus’s most important economic sectors and government interests”.

A total of 166 people and 15 organizations in Belarus are now under EU sanctions.

As of 23 May, EU airlines, the EU, have banned Belarussian airlines’ flights and have flown to Belarus.

The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have also imposed sanctions on Belarussian authorities.

‘Wealth war’

Belarus’s foreign ministry said the measures could hurt civilians and “limit the declaration of war”. It warned that Minsk would be forced to take retaliatory measures that could hurt western companies.

Belarus has been rocked by several months of protests over the election of Lukashenko.

Authorities responded with a shocking response that led to the arrest of thousands of people. Many opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country.

Since his release from the Ryanair flight in Minsk, Protasevich has been featured on state television, apologizing and apologizing for his actions and thanking Lukashenko.

His parents, detractors and some Westerners believe he spoke forcibly, while others say there were signs that he had been beaten.

In contrast, the trial of Sergei Tikhanovsky – the arrested man of Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, began on Thursday.

Tsikhanouskaya, who was arrested in May last year and charged with rioting, among other things, wanted to run in the presidential election.

His case has been closed to reporters.