Press Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Andrei Savinykh criticized the EU decision to impose sanctions on Belarusian companies. "The decision casts doubt on the ability of the EU Council to adequately assess the situation and take steps towards a constructive dialogue aimed at finding sustainable solutions," he said.
According to him, «European policy is in the illusions and misconceptions about the real situation in our country.» Andrei Savinykh has noted that economic sanctions are «actually directed against the interests of ordinary people,» while «sanctions’ thinking has proved its futility in the last century,» said the Foreign Ministry of Belarus.
«We are convinced that existing problems can only be solved through an open and equal dialogue,» said the spokesman.
Andrei Savinykh believes that «the EU actions are deepening confrontation, thus making it difficult to pass to a normal interaction.» «The Belarusian side will take adequate steps to protect the legitimate interests of its citizens and businesses, including the response to the initiators of this decision,» said the ministry spokesman.
According to Telegraf, June 20, the Council of Foreign Ministers of EU countries approved the introduction of economic sanctions on three firms controlled by businessman Vladimir Peftiev, close to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. As previously stated in the Council of EU ministers, this move is designed to «punish the Belarusian leader for the arrests of opposition activists and journalists, without hurting the economy.»
