Joint statement by:
· the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus, MEP Robert BIEDROŃ, and
· the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Belarus, MEP Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS
on the adoption of a fourth set of sanctions against Lukashenka's regime
Brussels, 25 June 2021 - "We welcome wholeheartedly the endorsement by the EU leaders of a fourth set of restrictive measures targeting Aliaksandr Lukashenka's regime, in line with the European Parliament's resolution of 10 June 2021.
Coordinated with Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, these additional sanctions hit 78 Belarusian officials, including the transport and defence Ministers, under the form of asset freezes and travel bans, as well as eight state entities.
Furthermore, the existing arms embargo is tightened and exports of communications equipment that could be used for spying are banned. Belarus' access to the EU capital markets is restricted; so is trade in petroleum products, potash, and goods used for the production or manufacturing of tobacco products.
These measures were much needed following last month's outrageous interception of an EU civilian plane, the subsequent arrest of a prominent journalist, Mr Raman Pratasevich, and of his companion, Ms Sofia Sapega, and the despicable use of migrants to destabilise Lithuania, an EU Member State that had led by example by providing safe-haven to many Belarusian opposition figures. [...]
Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP