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The discussions lasted for weeks, but now a decision has finally been made in the EU: it is imposing sanctions on Belarus! Since the presidential elections on August 9, there have been protests and strikes in the country against the authoritarian head of state Alexander Lukashenko (66), who has been in power for 26 years.
Specifically, according to the current state of planning, there should be punitive measures against 40 people accused of participating in electoral fraud or violent repression of peaceful protests. According to the German media, the sanctions are travel and account bans. Lukashenko himself is not on the list.
Will Switzerland follow suit?
The big question now is whether and how Switzerland will do the same. Otherwise, she threatens to indirectly become Lukashenko’s aide, if the 40 Belarusian officials continue to travel to Switzerland or invest money here.
The federal government says Guy Parmelins (60, SVP) Economic Department (EAER) is responsible for updating the list of sanctions against foreign individuals and organizations. The Secretary of State for the Economy (Seco), which belongs to EAER, maintains a low profile. “If the EU legally adopts new sanctions against Belarus, the competent authority will deal with them,” said spokeswoman Livia Willi.
For Switzerland to act, a decision of the Federal Council is needed; It remains to be seen if and when it will be taken. Willi notes, however, that the Federal Council followed up on previous sanctions against Belarus in 2006, and adjusted them to match the EU.
Sanctions take effect immediately
But it should be quick before the EU sanctions are legally valid. According to the President of the Council of the EU, Charles Michel (44), they should enter into force immediately. Switzerland should have already prepared for it. In terms of image, she should not be able to afford to stay out of sanctions and thus become an aide to Lukashenko’s entourage.
With the punitive measures, the EU wants to put additional pressure on the leadership in Belarus and establish a “sign of solidarity” with the people of the country.
It is said that the reason why the punitive measures are not currently directed against Lukashenko himself is that they want to keep diplomatic options open to resolve the conflict. In case you miss a turn, the course should be narrower if necessary.
The EU supports Cyprus in the dispute with Turkey
The EU actually wanted to take action as early as August, but so far Cyprus has opposed it with a veto. At the EU summit in Brussels, Cyprus finally withdrew its veto on Friday night. This against the concessions in connection with the dispute with Turkey.
