Lithuania supports expansion of the EU "black list" of the Belarusian officials. This was stated by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Audronius Azubalis. "Lithuania supports well thought targeted sanctions against certain regime servants," he said.
According to him, those sanctions should be applied to employees, engaged in politically motivated repression and hindering the development of civil society,» said the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Lithuania.
EU Visa Regime Abolition to Greatly Help Belarusians, Azubalis
However, the minister said, the EU has not yet resorted to such an opportunity for positive influence as negotiations on visa regime simplification with Belarus. «Due to the deteriorating situation of human rights in Belarus, the EU opening would be the greatest support and encouragement for Belarusian civil society,» he said.
In the event of further deterioration of human rights situation in Belarus, the EU may reextend sanctions against the country’s leadership. «Lithuania will strive to avoide the situation of ordinary Belarusians getting worse, as well as not to adversely influence the Lithuanian business. These issues are likely to be further discussed by the Council on Foreign Relations in future,» reported in the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.
As Telegraf previously reported, May 23, the head of the EU foreign ministry extended the «black list» of Belarusian officials, targeted for accounts freezing and the EU entry ban. The list includes 13 more new officers — 188 names in total.
As noted in the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, «the EU foreign ministers approved updted list without debate,» while the representative of Lithuania, Audronius Azubalis, noted that sanctions against Belarusian authorities should be introduced along with «steps toward the Belarusians.» «The Council has shown a balanced approach keeping the Belarusian society away of sanctions,» he added.
At the same time, president of Lithuania Grybauskaite spoke strongly against the introduction of the EU economic sanctions against Belarus.
