The European Union (EU), on Wednesday, agreed to impose new sanctions on Belarus for abuse of authority, election fraud, and diverting a commercial airline to arrest a dissident. The fresh sanctions include a travel ban and freezing of assets; they have been approved by all union members and will likely come into effect next week.
News reports suggested that the 88 people sanctioned, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, are banned from entering the EU, and have had their European bank accounts frozen. Reuters reported that “the new measures targeted at least seven individuals linked to the Belarusian aviation sector.” The sanctions are valid on all individuals associated with the Lukashenko regime in any capacity. These sanctions could also affect the bond sales, the oil sector, and the export of potash by Belarus.
In a crackdown on dissident, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko last month diverted Ryanair’s commercial plane to Minsk, citing a bomb threat. On May 23, the flight initially scheduled to land in Lithuania from Greece was diverted to Minsk, and the dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend were arrested on landing.
The Ryanair flight’s pilot, Michael O’Leary, before the British Parliament Select Committee, said, “This was a premeditated breach of all the international aviation rules, regulations, safety.” Lukashenko’s actions were condemned worldwide, which forced countries to impose sanctions on Belarus.
Also Read: Belarus Faces International Condemnation Over Plane Diversion to Arrest Dissident
Lukashenko won last year’s presidential elections by a landslide. However, Western leaders believe the elections were rigged.
In its earlier sanctions on Belarus, the EU had restricted Belarusian airlines from flying into the bloc. Additionally, it also prohibited European airlines from entering into Belarus’ airspace. While accounting for the additional costs of such restrictions, the European Union Aviation Safety Administration said, “The ban is needed to reduce the potential risk to passengers and crews that could arise from operations in this airspace.” Seven Belarusian-owned enterprises and organisations operating in the EU have been banned as well.
Besides the EU, the United States also announced its plan to impose sanctions on businesses and individuals from Belarus. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki released a statement condemning the actions of Belarusian leader and called flight diversion “a direct affront to international norms.” Consequently, the US has imposed sanctions on Belarusian-state owned enterprises and restrictions on American citizens from carrying out business. Additionally, the US also advised its citizens to not travel to Belarus. New Zealand, too, imposed a travel ban on the President of Belarus and individuals associated with the regime over election fraud and human rights abuses.
Speaking to DW, Belarusian exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called for tough sanctions, saying: “Lukashenko only understands the language of force and economic sanctions. This is the mechanism that should be used... the sanctions must be maximally tough.”
In a recent press conference organised by the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, Pratasevich made an appearance and said, “I am fine! I feel perfect! I am not a hostage, but my parents are hostages. My parents are used by politicians. My parents can return home safely.” However, a journalist working with DW who was present at the press conference, stated that the Lukashenko regime uses the jailed dissident leader to “convince the whole world and Belarusian people that Lukashenko won.”
The status of jailed dissident leaders remains unclear. Canada, Europe, and the US have refused to recognise Lukashenko as the rightful leader of Belarus and continue to mount pressure on Belarus to release Pratasevich. Meanwhile, Russia stands in solidarity with Lukashenko and his authoritarian regime in this hour of crisis and could play a role as a mediator.