EU imposes 3rd round of sanctions in opposition to Belarus in excess of repression

Dec. 17 (UPI) — The European Union on Thursday imposed even further sanctions towards Belarusian authorities and businesses, accusing them of participating in the ongoing violent repression of demonstrators, opposition politicians and journalists by the federal government.

“This choice aims to send a strong concept to the responsible political and economic actors that their guidance to the regime arrives at a value,” the EU said in a assertion.

A total of 29 folks and seven providers have been specific with travel bans and asset freezes with the sanctions on Thursday that prohibit all those blacklisted from entering or transiting by EU territories. EU citizens are also prohibited from carrying out small business with people named.

The sanctions are in relation to the repressive actions the government of Aleksander Lukashenko has used from the Belarusian folks protesting the results of August’s presidential election, which numerous international locations, such as Britain, the Untied States and those of the European bloc, have not acknowledged deeming them to have been neither free of charge nor honest.

The European Parliament has accused the Lukashenko routine of having responded to the protests with “an unparalleled level of violence and repression.”

In Oct, the European Parliament announced the Sakharov Prize for human legal rights would be awarded to Belarus’ democratic opposition.

That same month, the EU introduced its initial round of sanctions against 40 Belarusians in condemnation of the violence.

The next set of sanctions focusing on Lukashenko and 14 other officers was imposed early past month.

In whole, 88 folks and seven entities have been designated.

Among those sanctioned Thursday incorporate the Deputy Key Minister Anatol Aliaksandravich Sivak, Minister of Information and facts Ihar Uladzimiravich and Prosecutor Common Andrei Ivanavich.

“The goal of these sanctions is to put pressure on the Belarusian political management to stop further violence and repression, to launch all political prisoners and other unjustly detained men and women and to initiate a legitimate and inclusive countrywide dialogue with broader modern society,” the EU said. “The EU stands prepared to aid a peaceful democratic changeover.