EU foreign policy chief links lifting of sanctions to democratic elections in Belarus

December 11, Pozirk. Belarus will not be represented at the European Union’s foreign ministers meeting with their Eastern Partnership counterparts on December 11, top EU diplomat Josep Borrel told Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja yesterday.
The EU does “not recognize those who steal elections and repress their population. That’s what [Alaksandar] Łukašenka has done, he stole elections and represses the Belarusian people,” he stressed at their meeting in Brussels.
“We are working closely and are very much aware of the increasingly difficult situation in the country,” the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) press office quoted him as saying. “I am sure that the Ministers will be very keen to hear from you, dear Śviatłana, your assessment of the situation.”
The EU will keep sanctioning Belarus’ authorities and supporting the pro-democracy forces and civil society until Belarus holds democratic elections of its authorities that would represent all Belarusians, he stressed.
Borrel also noted that additional aid of €30 million to the Belarusian civil society and opposition took the total amount of EU assistance to €140 million since 2020.
- Politics, SocietyBySol to compensate Stryžak’s alleged victimsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ mobile networks not to raise rates until the end of 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsEU and Belarusian pro-democracy delegates meet in Brussels to discuss support mechanismsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecuritySecurity council head reports to Łukašenka on drones diverted to Belarus by RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsProsecutor’s commission approved 30 requests for return to Belarus, official claimsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyGreek Catholics hit hardest by re-registration in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyLithuania set to limit fuel trucks carry from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy, SecurityBelarus boosts gasoline exports to Russia amid wartime fuel shortagesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsProsecutors forward to court case against four exiled Honest People membersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsLithuanian PM: Vilnius to keep protecting CichanoŭskajaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk envoy blames Belarus’ western neighbors for migrant deathsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy, PoliticsWarsaw sanctions two Polish companies, three Belarusians, citing Russia sanctions evasionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsIrregular border crossings from Belarus into Poland rising since October 1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: auditor convicted twice, pressure on journalists continuesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja discusses political prisoners with French foreign ministerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarusian police accused of torturing former Afghan officerThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics