EU Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Belarusian President

President Lukashenko of Belarus has received condemnation and sanctions following an election widely regarded to have been rigged in his favor. (Wikimedia Commons)

The EU has sanctioned Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko over violent repression of peaceful protests and alleged election fraud. The sanctions ban Lukashenko, his son, and 13 other Belarusian officials from entry into EU territory, freeze their assets, and forbid EU citizens and companies from providing them funds.

These restrictions make up the second round of sanctions against Belarusians, which began in October and targeted 40 government officials for reports of intimidating opposition members and journalists in the wake of the August presidential election. The EU rejected the electoral outcome, stating that officials rigged the vote and that Lukashenko holds office illegitimately.

These most recent sanctions respond to the intensification of violence by Belarusian police against peaceful protestors, including arbitrary arrests and detentions. In the document, the European Council expressed its support for free and fair elections, freedom of press, and an end to human rights abuses. 

Opposition Leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the presumed winner of the election who has since fled to Lithuania, encouraged the EU to ramp up sanctions so as to target companies and organizations supporting Lukashenko, such as the Belarusian Olympic committee. She highlighted the EU’s slow response in the past, claiming,“This help is needed now,” and the bloc must “move faster in their decisions.”

EU leaders have hesitated to sanction Lukashenko directly in the past, fearing escalations of violence. Cyprus has also repeatedly voiced its disapproval for sanctioning Lukashenko, which delayed the implementation of the October sanctions. However, EU Foreign Policy Chief Joseph Borell stated that a “complete lack of will from Lukashenko’s side to engage in negotiation” warranted the intensification.

Tikhanovskaya has also urged the EU to ensure visa-free travel for Belarusians to promote the free movement of people throughout the EU and lay a blow to Lukashenko. She stated that if “people can leave the country without problems, the regime will not have so much power over them.”

Supporters of the Tikhanovskaya, including laborers and university students, have led demonstrations for several weeks despite facing harsh retaliation from Belarusian authorities. Industrial workers have played an important role in the movement, with several thousand presently on strike. These workers aim to strain the export-reliant economy to win concessions from Lukashenko. In response, Lukashenko has used selective enforcement measures to terminate workers and expel students.