Accessibility links

Breaking News

EU Approves Further Sanctions Against Belarus Over Role In Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine


Belarus hosted joint military exercises with Russia in February. Russia launched part of its invasion from Belarusian territory.
Belarus hosted joint military exercises with Russia in February. Russia launched part of its invasion from Belarusian territory.

The European Union has approved new sanctions on Belarus for assisting Russia in its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

France, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, said in a statement on March 2 that the sanctions are aimed at those individuals in Belarus who are playing a role in aiding the attacks on Ukraine, as well as "some economic sectors, and in particular timber, steel, and potassium."

The 27-nation bloc has already imposed a series of wide-ranging measures against Belarus over human rights abuses stemming from a brutal crackdown by the regime of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka against dissent after a disputed presidential election in August 2020.

Lukashenka claimed victory, and a sixth consecutive term in office, after the vote, while the opposition says the process was rigged and that its candidate, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, won the balloting.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL's Belarus Service

    RFE/RL's Belarus Service is one of the leading providers of news and analysis to Belarusian audiences in their own language. It is a bulwark against pervasive Russian propaganda and defies the government’s virtual monopoly on domestic broadcast media.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

​
XS
SM
MD
LG