US announces sanctions against Belarus
Sanctions are expected to target key members of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's regime.
AP - Sergei Shelega
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The United States says it is preparing punitive measures - with the European Union - after Belarus intercepted a European airliner last week to arrest a journalist.
The US government has chosen targeted sanctions against the government of President Lukashenko received Friday by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Poutine.
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White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the sanctions will target key members of Alexander Lukashenko's regime.
People associated with
the interception of the Ryanair plane
on board which was a journalist opposed to the president on May 23, but also specifies Washington, the current violations of human rights, corruption and the falsification of 2020 elections.
► To read also: Return on the disinformation campaign around the hijacking of the Ryanair plane in Minsk
These elections which had already pushed the United States to sanction eight Belarusian officials.
Nine public enterprises targeted
At the same time, the US Treasury says it is working on measures against elements of the regime and its support network.
Economic sanctions, which were lifted in 2015, against nine state-owned companies will be effective again next Thursday.
Americans are prohibited from doing business with these companies.
The United States also advises its nationals not to travel to Belarus.
The Federal Aviation Administration is asking American companies to exercise extreme caution when flying over this country, without forcing them to bypass it as the European Union has asked its own companies.
The start of a standoff with Russia which did not validate certain flight plans avoiding Belarusian airspace.
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To read also: In Sochi, Vladimir Putin does not spare his support for Alexander Lukashenko
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