Monitoring Desk: United Nations has imposed new sanctions on Belarus.
According to a White House official, the latest sanctions, the largest by the U.S. so far on Belarusian individuals and entities, will target the country’s economy and the Belarusian National Olympic Committee.
One of Belarus’ largest state-owned enterprises and one of the world’s largest producers of potash, Belaruskali OAO, will be blacklisted. The company, whose product is used in fertilizers, is Belarus’ main foreign currency earner.
Meanwhile, CGTN reported that the move follows the refusal of Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya to board a flight home during the recently-concluded Olympic Games in Tokyo after she was taken to the airport against her wishes. Tsimanouskaya has since sought refugee status in Poland.
The UK announced its new sanctions on Monday, targeting exports of oil products and potash. Lukashenko said Britain would “choke” on its measures and that he was ready for talks with the West instead of a sanctions war.
Canada also imposed new sanctions on Belarus to protest what it termed as “gross and systematic violations of human rights” under Lukashenko.
