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It is announced that there are 17 people on the preliminary list, but A. Lukashenko is not included in it.
It is true that this is only the opinion of the experts, but their working groups formally advise diplomats, so it is very likely that the list will be approved next week by the EU envoys in Brussels. Then at the ministerial level.
The sanctions include a ban on entry into EU countries and the freezing of financial assets in European banks.
In the past, community members have reached a political consensus on the need for sanctions against officials of the Belarusian regime, but there has been uncertainty about officials subject to restrictions, with some states reluctant to add Lukashenko to the list.
For example, Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn warned last week not to impose sanctions on Lukashenko.
According to Asselborn, this could hamper efforts to mediate negotiations through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
“We must remember that in addition to the European Union, there is the OSCE. Of course, they also want to keep the opportunity to have a dialogue in this country in some way,” he said.
The attitude of the Baltic countries is harsher. 30 high-ranking Belarusian officials imposed national sanctions on Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Among them are Lukashenko and people close to him.
Laurynas Jonavičius, Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University 15 minutes He said he was not surprised by the news.
Žygimantas Gedvila / 15min photo / Laurynas Jonavičius
“The fact that we have included Lukashenko on our list, and the EU has not yet done so, shows that, at least, the opinions of little people about what is happening in Belarus are different. This is a consequence of the specificities of the EU decision-making process.
From our point of view, it is wrong that Lukashenko is not on the list, because we consider him a presumed illegitimate president. However, the EU wants to have a free hand if Lukashenko inadvertently agrees to the dialogue, “the analyst said.
Polaco Radio and highlights that the preliminary “black list” is open. This means that new officials can be added; it is also possible to reach a list of 30 people.
Czech Foreign Minister Tomasz Petrichek also mentioned this last week.
He agreed that sanctions should be imposed on Lukashenko, but added that such a thing could be kept in reserve and used later, “if we see that there is no positive development in Belarus.”
“There is an OSCE proposal on mediation and sanctions would further complicate possible negotiations. Also, both Merkel and others are still trying to call Lukashenko, there is a visible desire for him to be available,” said L. Jonavičius.
Of course, Lukashenko is unlikely to enter into a dialogue, so another explanation can be sought for why no EU sanctions are planned.
“Let’s say from the point of view of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, if you take a clear position towards an author, there is a possibility that something similar could be decided about you.
„Reuters“ / „Scanpix“ nuotr./Viktoras Orbanas
Finally, there is the Russian element and the economic element. Other countries do not look at Belarus in the same way as we do, they look less often and not through a prism, but through an economic prism, ”commented L. Jonavičius.
On the other hand, the expert is interested in the fact that Lukashenko was previously on the EU sanctions lists, after the 2006 and 2010 crackdowns, although the protests are being repressed even more severely this year than then.
“It just came to our knowledge then. But other factors are important; after all, the geopolitical situation has changed both in Europe and in Europe,” noted L. Jonavičius.
It was decided to impose new sanctions on the Lukashenko regime due to rigged presidential elections and violence used against peaceful protesters.
After the first manifestations of electoral fraud, some 7,000 people were arrested. of the people who left the detention center said they had been brutally beaten, several people died.
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