Belarus: UK government imposes additional sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko’s regime | Political news

The UK government has imposed further sanctions on Belarus over allegations of human rights abuses.

With the exception of the United States, Canada and the European Union, Britain on Thursday imposed new sanctions against eight countries Belarusian Individuals are “responsible for repression and human rights abuses”.

The assets of OJSC Belaruskali, one of the world’s largest potash fertilizer companies, have also been frozen.

That’s it Fifth round of sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom on Belarus, Target Alexander Lukashenko Rule.

The dictatorial leader of Belarus has been in power since 1994, but was re-elected president in 2020, not recognized by the European Union and widely lost by others.

Recently, the European Union accused Lukashenko of committing crimes Attracting border migrants False promise to give permission to the block.

Lukashenko denied that this was the case.

The UK government says Lukashenko’s rule has proven to be a “persistent disregard for international law.”

Secretary of State Liz Truss He said sanctions “continue to target important sources of income for the Lukashenko regime and impose strict restrictions on those responsible for some of the worst anti-democratic activities in Belarus.”

He said: “The United Kingdom believes in freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of association. We will not ignore opposition members, journalists and activists who continue to be attacked, imprisoned, killed or deported.

Ms Truss added: “The United Kingdom and its allies must always stand up for the rule of law and be accountable to those who undermine freedom, democracy and human rights.”

The UK government has already imposed sanctions on more than 100 people and organizations in Belarus in response to “bad elections” and “a series of despicable acts and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Lukashenko regime.”

The new sanctions include property freezes and travel bans on five lawyers who played a key role in spreading misinformation in Belarus, ministers said.

The ministers added that the judge and the assistant attorney general are facing sentences for causing a number of politically motivated punishments against journalists, activists and protesters.

They said the move “represents an important step in pressuring the Lukashenko regime to exert influence.”