PRESIDENT: Norway introduces new measures that directly affect President Alexander Lukashenko. Photo: Sergei Gapon / Pool AFP
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On Friday, the government adopted restrictive measures against the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko.
– We hope the restrictive measures will put pressure on the authorities in Belarus to respect human rights, enter into dialogue with the opposition and facilitate democratic development, says Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide.
– The abuses of power we are witnessing are completely unacceptable, the minister continues.
The EU countries have agreed on various sanctions this autumn. These are the ones Norway is now joining. The measures include travel restrictions and freezing of financial resources.
This means that President Lukashenko – and 54 other Belarusians affected by the restrictions – will be denied entry to Norway. Any properties or bank accounts they have in the country will also be frozen.
Response to oppression
On 2 October this year, the EU adopted a common position to introduce restrictive measures against 40 Belarusian nationals. On November 6, these measures were expanded, and will now affect another 15 people – including President Alexander Lukashenko.
Large demonstrations have marked Belarus every weekend after the country’s controversial presidential election on 9 August. In several of the demonstrations have over one hundred thousand people participated.
The people have been taking to the streets for months – first to express their dissatisfaction with the alleged election result, later to demonstrate against widespread police violence against the protesters.
REBELLION POLICE: Belarusian rebel forces arrest a protester in Minsk. The picture is from Sunday 15 November.
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As the country’s supreme leader, Lukashenko is responsible for the violent response from the authorities, and this is the reason why the Norwegian sanctions are now being introduced.
“The security forces have carried out – and are carrying out – mass arrests, torture and violence against peaceful protesters, activists, opposition figures and journalists,” reads a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the sanctions.
Because the sanctions include the head of state of another country, they had to be presented to the Council of State as a royal resolution.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also writes: “Protesters have lost their lives as a result of the security forces’ use of force. “Lukashenko has rejected all calls for dialogue from the democracy movement and the international community.”
Continues the fight
Last Sunday, at least 1,100 protesters were arrested in the Belarusian capital Minsk.
On Thursday last week, 31-year-old Roman Bondarenko died in hospital from injuries after being beaten – allegedly by the police. The deaths have stirred the minds of the Belarusian opposition, and led to thousands gathering for demonstrations last weekend as well.
—PENSIONERS: Elderly Belarusians marched on Monday in protest of President Lukashenko. Photo: STRINGER / AFP
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The EU has threatened further sanctions against President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime following his death.
“Only economic pressure will make this regime go away, because they no longer want money to pay for the rebel police and their crimes,” Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told Reuters during a visit to Stockholm this week.
Tikhanovskaya has been in exile since the election, having fled the country for the safety of her children.
Published: 20.11.20 kl. 11:35
Updated: 20.11.20 at 13:55
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