As soon as possible: Tsikhanouskaya urges EU to slap new sanctions on pro-Lukashenka officials
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on foreign ministers of EU member countries to impose sanctions on the representatives of pro-Lukashenka authorities, develop an assistance plan for the country and hold a conference on the Belarusian issue.
In light of the continuing violence and repression in Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya sent a letter to European foreign ministers and chairpersons of foreign affairs committees of EU countries’ parliaments.
“I urge you to introduce new targeted sanctions against a wide range of perpetrators involved in human rights abuse [in Belarus], as well as against groups and companies that support the Lukashenka regime. Levying sanctions is one of the few impactful and efficient Western responses to the regime’s actions. And one needs to act as soon as possible,” she noted.
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya also proposed to arrange a high-level international conference on resolving the crisis in Belarus with the participation of Belarusian democratic forces and governments, parliaments, civil society groups from the EU, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia as well as representatives of the Belarusian authorities.
“The crisis must be resolved peacefully with the help of an inclusive dialogue. It is the dialogue that should lead to a new presidential election this year. And it is very important that all political prisoners and detainees be released and rehabilitated,” the politician stressed.
The Belarusian opposition leader also called for ‘turning solidarity into responsibilities by announcing and publishing a comprehensive EU assistance plan for Belarus’.
As reported on Tuesday, the fourth package of EU sanctions against the regime of Alyaksandr Lukashenka is hardly to be in place by the upcoming meeting of EU ministers of foreign affairs on May 10. However, the ‘fourth package issue’ may be presented during another meeting which is to be held in June.
belsat.eu
