UPDATE 1-EU to prepare new round of Belarus sanctions – diplomats
BRUSSELS, Nov 19- European Union foreign ministers agreed to push ahead on Thursday with a new round of sanctions on Belarus that could be ready in weeks, two EU diplomats said. The EU has already imposed a series of travel bans and asset freezes on a number of Belarusian officials in protest over an Aug. 9 presidential election the West says was rigged and over…
By Robin Emmott
BRUSSELS, Nov 19 (Reuters) – European Union foreignministers agreed to push ahead on Thursday with a new round ofsanctions on Belarus that could be ready in weeks, two EUdiplomats said.
The EU has already imposed a series of travel bans and assetfreezes on a number of Belarusian officials in protest over anAug. 9 presidential election the West says was rigged and overPresident Alexander Lukashenko’s violent crackdown on opponents.
The new sanctions are expected to target more seniorofficials and also entities that finance Lukashenko and hisgovernment, the diplomats said.
“There was unanimous political agreement among the EU’s 27governments for more sanctions,” one EU diplomat told Reutersafter the meeting, which was held by video conference.
“We must stop this crime against democracy.”
The EU first hit 40 Belarus officials with sanctions on Oct.2 and has since expanded the number of people targeted.
Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fledto Lithuania after the vote she says she won, urged EU leadersthis week to impose “targeted financial sanctions againstpeople… who are in the pockets of Lukashenko”.
Police in Minsk used tear gas, rubber bullets and stungrenades to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators lastSunday, on the 14th straight weekend of protests since thedisputed election that Lukashenko says he won by a landslide.
EU governments are looking for ways to increase pressure onthe Belarusian leadership, which has the backing of Russia, toend its crackdown and enter into dialogue with the opposition.
The death last week of a 31-year-old anti-governmentprotester, after what demonstrators said was a severe beating bysecurity forces, has further galvanised EU support for theBelarusian opposition.(Reporting by Robin Emmott, editing by Gareth Jones)
