The Belarusian opponent asks European leaders to show themselves "more courageous".

Svetlana Tsikhanouskaïa, leader of the opposition, urged European officials, Monday, September 21, in Brussels, to approve the sanctions against Belarusian officials involved in the repression of the protest and to show courage.

"The European leaders have reasons which push them not to impose the sanctions, but I asked them to be more courageous", declared Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, who took refuge in Lithuania after the election.

>> To read: In Minsk, thousands of demonstrators continue to challenge Alexander Lukashenko

"Sanctions are important"

The Europeans have so far not implemented their threats of sanctions against the dignitaries of the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.

The latter was re-elected on August 9 following a ballot whose validity is disputed.

"The sanctions are important for our fight because they contribute to the pressure which could force the so-called authorities to open a dialogue with us", she added during a press conference organized at the end of an interview with EU foreign ministers.

There, protests continue and the opposition has taken to the streets for the sixth consecutive weekend.

According to the Interior Ministry, 442 people were arrested.

Unanimous agreement needed

The European Union, like the United States, is calling for new elections to be held in Belarus and for the departure of Alexander Lukashenko, who has held power for 26 years.

The bloc announced at the end of August that it would freeze assets and prohibit members of the government, those of the electoral commission and officials of the security services from visiting its territory.

However, this set of sanctions requires the unanimous agreement of the 27 Member States, but the Cypriot government wants the Union to first adopt the measures it recommends against Turkey, following the dispatch of a ship from seismic prospecting in an area whose sovereignty is contested.

With Reuters 

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR