On Monday, the European Union expanded its sanctions blacklist to include 28 officials and 'propagandists' in Belarus, citing their role in the suppression of dissent against President Alexander Lukashenko.
The 27-nation bloc has consistently applied sanctions against the Belarusian government since the authorities began a crackdown on protests challenging Lukashenko's leadership in 2020. Additionally, the EU has intensified sanctions on Belarus due to its significant role in facilitating Russia's incursion into Ukraine.
The new sanctions bring the total number of individuals penalized for the crackdown in the ex-Soviet state to 261, encompassing Lukashenko and his family. Among those now facing an EU asset freeze and visa ban are Irina Akulovich, the head of the national news agency BelTA, and notable television host Nikita Rachilovsky.
'These regime propagandists willingly disseminated false information to the Belarusian public about state-sanctioned repression,' the EU stated in an official release. The blacklist also includes two commanders from an interior ministry unit, accused of being a primary force behind political persecution.
Additional sanctions were levied against judges, prosecutors, and prison officials implicated in the oppression of the opposition. Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Russia, initiated the severe crackdown in August 2020 following his contested election victory, which triggered widespread protests.
According to prominent human rights organization Viasna, Belarus currently holds over 1,400 political prisoners, with thousands more having escaped the country. Lukashenko has maintained a tight grip on power throughout his 30-year reign.
