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The United Kingdom and Canada have imposed travel bans and asset freezes on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, his son and other senior officials over accusations that their government rigged elections and committed violence against protesters.
Tuesday’s sanctions were the first implemented by major Western powers over the crisis in Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
More than 12,000 people have been arrested in mass demonstrations since Lukashenko, who has ruled the country for 26 years, was named the landslide winner of the August 9 presidential elections that his opponents said were rigged. Lukashenko denies electoral fraud.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the sanctions were part of a coordinated approach with Canada “in an attempt to uphold democratic values and put pressure on those responsible for the crackdown.”
Raab called Lukashenko’s government “violent and fraudulent” and said the sanctions are intended to send a clear message that “we do not accept the results of this rigged election.”
“We will hold those responsible for the slaughter unleashed against the Belarusian people to account,” he said.
The British measures include a travel ban and the assets freeze of eight Belarusian government officials, including Lukashenko, his son Victor Lukashenko and Igor Sergeenko, the head of the presidential administration. Canada’s list includes Lukashenko and 10 others.
Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Canada and the United Kingdom acted together to ensure that the sanctions have greater effect.
“Canada stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus in their struggle to restore human rights and achieve democracy in their country,” said Champagne.
The British government says Lukashenko is the first leader sanctioned under Britain’s new global human rights sanctions program, which was introduced in July.
Balancing act
So far, the West has tried to tread carefully, balancing sympathy for the pro-democracy movement in Belarus with caution not to provoke Russia. In addition to the United Kingdom and Canada, the United States and the European Union consider Lukashenko’s presidency illegitimate, but he has the backing of his ally and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The EU, which Britain resigned in January, has said it will impose sanctions on a list of Belarusian officials, but has not finalized the list yet. Some small EU countries close to Belarus have announced sanctions without waiting for the bloc to act.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday pushed for European mediation in Belarus’ political crisis after meeting with the opposition leader of the former Soviet republic, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, during a visit to Lithuania.
After the meeting, Tikhanovskaya told reporters that the French leader had
“He promised to do everything possible to help with the negotiations, for this political crisis in our country” and also promised to help secure the release of political prisoners in Belarus.
Tikhanovskaya went into exile in Lithuania after the Belarusian presidential elections.
Macron expected EU sanctions against Belarusian officials to be adopted at the next EU summit, according to Tikhanovskaya’s adviser Franak Vyachorko.
Whether the bloc imposes sanctions will depend on whether member state Cyprus changes position during the EU summit this week. Cyprus has so far insisted that it will not accept sanctions against Belarus unless the bloc also imposes sanctions on Turkey for a separate dispute.
“We had a very good discussion. Now we have to be pragmatic and support the people of Belarus and we will do all that, “Macron told reporters.
The French leader has previously said that Putin was in favor of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mediating the crisis in Belarus.
But Putin said on Tuesday that Belarus was in a “difficult situation” and faced “unprecedented external pressure”.
Addressing a forum on the Belarusian and Russian regions, the Russian president said Moscow was ready to support Minsk, describing the ties as “timeless and all-weather.”
Putin has promised to provide Lukashenko with security assistance if the political crisis worsens and has made a $ 1.5 billion loan.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down Macron’s talks with Tikhanovskaya, saying they amounted to a meeting between the “French president and a Belarusian citizen.”
Lukashenko has defied calls for him to resign or for outside experts to help mediate the crisis.
Many prominent members of a council formed with the aim of organizing a transfer of power in Belarus have been arrested or fled the country. The protests have persisted despite daily arrests of protesters, including 500 people during last weekend’s demonstrations.
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