Belarus: new US and British sanctions against the country
The regime of Alexander Lukashenko is once again sanctioned, this time by the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
(illustrative image) Maxim Guchek / BelTA / Handout via REUTERS
Text by: RFI Follow
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The announcement was made one year to the day after the criticized re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, an election deemed "
fraudulent
" by Joe Biden.
The US, UK and Canada have unveiled a new round of coordinated sanctions against Minsk.
Personalities like companies are targeted.
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Both the substance and the form of these sanctions are intended to be severe.
It was in a statement from the White House that the signing by Joe Biden of a decree of new sanctions was announced.
The goal is, according to the US Treasury, to hit corporations, entities and businessmen who function as "the wallets" of the regime.
►Also read
: Belarus: one year after the disputed re-election of Alexander Lukashenko
This is the case of the Belarusian National Olympic Committee: the institution is accused by Washington of money laundering.
Along with the United Kingdom, the United States is also sanctioning the state-owned Belaruskali company, a company valuable to the regime because it is one of the largest producers of potash in the world.
Targeted financial products
Canada specifically targets financial products.
Finally, Ottawa, Washington and London jointly sanction exports of petroleum products.
Businessmen from these crucial sectors are also targeted.
In twelve months of repression against the opposition, the sanctions have multiplied, without concrete results.
The latest measurements from Westerners, including Europeans, date from two months ago.
They were decided after the forced landing of a Ryan air flight in Minsk, and the arrest of dissident Roman Protassevich and his fiancée who were on board.
Joe Biden had received on July 28 at the White House the Belarusian opponent in exile
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
, a strong mark of support for the one who claims to have won the presidential election of 2020.
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