The European Union implements new sanctions against Belarus

The economic sanctions under discussion aim to hit the regime in the portfolio, explained the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell in Brussels, June 16, 2021. REUTERS - JOHANNA GERON

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The ambassadors of the 27 members of the European Union on Wednesday approved new measures after the forced landing in Minsk of a plane with the opponent Roman Protassevich on board and against the repression of President Alexander Lukashenko in the face of the protest movement .

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With our correspondent in Brussels, 

Pierre Benazet

The list of Belarusians hit by European sanctions will grow with 78 new names.

These are the classic sanctions used by the Union, namely the entry ban on EU territory and the freezing of financial assets held in Europe.

The decision must now be validated by the foreign ministers on Monday in Luxembourg to be published in the Official Journal.

This is when the names of those sanctioned will be known, but we know that out of 78, seven were directly involved in the

diversion of the Athens-Vilnius flight

on May 23.

The others will be added to those already sanctioned by the EU for the repression of the contested elections.

This will bring to 159 the number of Belarusians sanctioned for this reason, including President

Alexander Lukashenko

and his son.

Seven entities will also be subject to sanctions for the diversion of flight FR4978;

funding will be prohibited and their assets will be seized.

The

skies and airports of the EU

are already off limits to Belarusian planes and the Europeans are also preparing targeted sanctions against several sectors of the Belarusian economy.

See also: Belarus: MEPs call for tougher sanctions

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  • Belarus

  • Alexander Lukashenko

  • European Union