EU slaps economic sanctions on Belarus

The 27 EU foreign ministers, convened in Luxembourg on Monday, decided to freeze the assets of three Belarusian state-owned companies linked with President Lukashenko (pictured) including arms maker Beltechexport, a company which reportedly has trade connections with Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

Targeting two other companies, operating in the telecommunications and gambling sectors, has been the subject of much controversy, as both of them have stakes owned by Italian businesses. Rome had opposed sanctions, yet Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has now given the move the green light.

Further diplomatic sanctions have been put in place, with an extension of the travel ban ‘blacklist’ naming over 180 individuals close to the Belarusian regime.

The sanctions come in response to violations of democratic standards in the country, and a crackdown of opposition activists who demonstrated in December last year against the reportedly rigged presidential elections that extended Lukashenko’s 16-year rule. (nh/pg)