MEPs adopted a resolution on Thursday, January 20, calling for immediate sanctions against the Belarusian leadership. The document calls on the EU Council, in particular, to introduce the visa ban and asset freeze of the Belarusian senior executives, government officials, the judiciary and security agencies, which, according to the European Union, are responsible for rigging the December presidential election and persecution of the opposition.
According to the MEPs, sanctions should remain in force untill the Belarusian authorities release all prisoners and opposition members and repudiate all charges against them, Korrespondent.net.
Earlier, Polish authorities decided to ban the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko entry into the country on January 18. Also prohibited from entering A number of Belarusian officials got under travel restrictions as well.
As Telegraf previously reported, Lukashenko he was elected head of state for the fourth term on December 19. After the election, thousands of supporters of the Belarusian opposition held an unauthorized rally in Minsk and then attempted to capture the Government House.
The action was suppressed by the internal troops and Special Forces. About 600 protesters, including 11 Russians, were sentenced to administrative arrest. Dispersal of the opposition was strongly condemned by the Western countries. In particular, Washington said that it could not recognize the results of the presidential elections in Belarus as legitimate.
