The EU has expanded sanctions against Belarusian officials who helped quell the protests.



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Last year, the bloc imposed sanctions on 88 people linked to the repression, including Mr. Lukashenko and his son; all of them were denied entry into the territory of the Community and their assets were frozen.

Currently, the Community is considering adding new names to this “blacklist” for the fourth time, and Mr. Lukashenko refuses to step down, despite widespread opposition to his regime.

Belarus has been plagued by massive protests for several months against the results of the presidential elections on August 9, which were declared the winners by authoritarian President Lukashenko, who has led the country since 1994.

The police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons against the protesters; thousands of people were arrested.

In recent days, the Belarusian authorities have intensified the persecution of opponents: raids of homes and offices by numerous journalists, human rights defenders and trade unionists.

Last week, the EU condemned Minsk’s “shameful media crackdown” after a Belarusian court sentenced two Belsat TV journalists to two years in prison for filming a protest.

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