[ad_1]
Belarus announced retaliatory measures against the European Union (EU) after the EU announced to punish its officials for the controversy in the presidential elections.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry on October 2 accused the EU of “working to deteriorate bilateral relations” and announced a series of sanctions against the alliance. It is still unclear how many EU officials Minsk will retaliate against Minsk because this list has not been announced.
|
| Belarusian presidential administration Alexander Lukashenko Belarus decided “tit for tat” EU. Photo: BelTA |
According to Euronews, the move comes just hours after EU leaders met and agreed to impose sanctions on some 40 Belarusian officials, with the exception of President Alexander Lukashenko, who accused them of being involved in fraud in the general elections on 9 August, as well as the crackdown on peaceful protesters who opposed the voting results, followed immediately.
Both the EU, the UK and the US have now rejected the results of the Belarusian general elections, in which President Lukashenko declared an overwhelming victory with more than 80% of voters in favor. Lukashenko has been in power in the Eastern European country for the past 26 years.
On the same day, Belarus’ BelTA news agency reported that the country’s Foreign Ministry had asked the Polish and Lithuanian embassies in the capital, Minsk, to drastically reduce the number of diplomatic staff. Specifically, the Polish embassy will have no more than 18 diplomats instead of the current 50, and the Lithuanian embassy will have no more than 14 diplomats instead of the current 25.
Anatol Hlaz, spokesman for the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that the decision was related to “apparent sabotage activities” by Poland and Lithuania. Diplomacy cuts must be made no later than October 9.
Mr. Hlaz also revealed that Minsk ordered the ambassadors in Poland and Lithuania to return home for consultation starting on October 5, and suggested that the two countries do the same with their representatives in Belarus.
However, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau stated that neither Poland nor Lithuania intended to summon their ambassadors to Belarus, citing that “it is necessary to maintain communication channels.”
At the end of October 2, the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the cancellation of licenses for foreign journalists in this country from that moment on.
Tuan anh
President Putin “threw the lifeline” on Belarusian leader
Russian President Putin agreed to give Minsk a loan of $ 1.5 billion and recognized Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.
Large protests in Belarus
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, marking the fourth week of protests in the country.
