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Democracy News
US and EU Announce New Sanctions on Belarus
February 3, 2011
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly
Weeks after the brutal December 19 presidential election-related crackdown on democracy activists and opposition members in Belarus, on January 31, the US Department of State announced new sanctions to respond to the ongoing repression by President Alexander Lukashenko’s government. The election was strongly condemned by the US government and was identified by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe as “flawed.” Immediately following the December 19 crackdown, in a joint statement, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said, “We strongly condemn all violence, especially the disproportionate use of force against presidential candidates, political activists, representatives of civil society and journalists. Taken together, the elections and their aftermath represent an unfortunate step backwards in the development of democratic governance and respect for human rights in Belarus.” The crackdown occurred after citizens in Belarus staged massive demonstrations in the capital city of Minsk to protest Lukashenko’s fourth consecutive re-election.
According to a press statement released by the US Department of State, the US government is suspending all business transactions with three Belarusian state-owned petroleum and chemical companies, “significantly expanding” the list of Belarusian officials subject to travel restrictions into the US, and is working to impose further financial sanctions. The statement also called for the release of all political prisoners that were detained in the December 19 crackdown and for the Belarusian government to cease its harassment of civil society and the independent media. In the past, the use of sanctions has successfully been used to pressure the Belarusian government to release political prisoners.
In response to criticisms from European leaders, the New York Times reported that Lukashenko remained defiant. In a message on his website, Lukashenko stated, “Are you trying to frighten me with sanctions? Well God be with you.” His statement additionally read, “I have lived under visa restrictions for probably 10 years and am still alive and well.”
During a meeting in Brussels, European Union ministers passed a resolution to impose travel bans and freeze the assets of Lukashenko and other high-ranking Belarusian officials. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the travel ban will include 158 officials, but will exclude Foreign Minister Syarhey Martynau. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said that Martynau would be allowed to travel in order to maintain communication between the Lukashenko government and the European Union.
Additionally, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that Belarusian opposition movements would soon be receiving approximately 87 million euros ($120 million). Jerzy Buzek, the speaker of the European Parliament, said the aid would be used to support civil society and the Belarusian people while the Lukashenko government faces heavy sanctions.
Previously on January 27, National Democratic Institute President Kenneth Wollack gave testimony on the current situation in Belarus. Before the Subcommittee on European Affairs of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Wollack identified the Lukashenko regime’s ongoing crackdown on democracy activists as “tragic and extreme.” Referring to the country’s continually rigged elections as “empty exercises,” Wollack stated that Lukashenko has systematically repressed opposition forces and independent media within Belarus. Advocating for the continued release of the victims of the December 19 crackdown, Wollack stated that it is crucial to continue to support Belarusian opposition forces.
For more information, please see the Belarus case study in the Diplomat’s Handbook for Democracy Development Support.
To read the ISC/CD’s statement on Belarus, please click here.
For previous news on Belarus, please see:
Europe’s Last Dictator Claims Victory in Belarusian Presidential Election
Sources:
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - EU, U.S. Coordinate New Round Of Sanctions Against Belarus
New York Times - Facing Sanctions, Belarus Frees Seven Political Prisoners, but a Dozen Remain in Jail
US Department of State - Belarus Sanctions
Kenneth Wollack’s full statement to the Subcommittee on European Affairs of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
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