Lukashenko,
66, has led Belarus, a former Soviet Republic between Russia and several EU
member states, for more than a quarter of a century, tolerating little dissent.
European Union on Friday impose sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, along his son and 14 other officials, for repression of the pro-democracy movement following August’s contested election.
The asset
freezes and travel bans were implemented following an EU ambassadors’ agreement
earlier this week.
They came in
response to “violent repression and intimidation of peaceful demonstrators,
opposition members and journalists,” according to a statement.
Lukashenko’s
son and also national security advisor, Viktor, is among those targeted by the
new measures.
There have
been mass protests against Lukashenko every weekend in Minsk for nearly three
months, following an Aug. 9 presidential election that protesters alleged was
rigged.
Last Sunday
alone, 300 people were detained, according to the Interior Ministry. Photos and
videos showed security forces using flash and shock grenades against the
peaceful crowd.
The
Belarusian leader was initially spared from inclusion on the EU blacklist
imposed early last month on 40 officials accused of fraud and of rights abuses.
Diplomats had
feared that adding his name to the list could exacerbate the crisis.
Belarusian
officials have repeatedly accused the EU of interfering in their domestic
affairs. EU foreign ministers agreed in
October to add Lukashenko’s name to the bloc’s blacklist if no improvement was
seen in the country.
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