EU To Extend Belarus Sanctions

Belarusian human rights activist Ales Byalyatski

Reports say the European Union is to extend sanctions on Belarus next week in response to rights violations.

News agencies quoted diplomats as saying EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on October 10 will add 16 names to a list of some 190 Belarusian officials targeted by asset freezes and travel bans, including President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

One EU diplomat said the new sanctions will mainly target judges and state lawyers involved in the detention of leading human rights activist Ales Byalyatski in August.

compiled from agency reports