Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko threatened with new EU sanctions on re-election anniversary
- ‘The EU stands ready to consider further measures in light of the regime’s blatant disregard of international commitments,’ said EU chief Josep Borrell
- In August last year, Lukashenko was declared the winner with 80.1 per cent of the votes despite massive accusations of electoral fraud
On the eve of the anniversary of his re-election, widely believed to have been rigged, Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko was threatened by the European Union with additional sanctions.
“The EU stands ready to consider further measures in light of the regime’s blatant disregard of international commitments,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday.
With the “forced and unlawful” landing of a Ryanair flight in May and the instrumentalisation of migrants for political purposes, the regime has “further challenged international norms,” Borrell added.
Borrell was alluding, among other things, to the fact that more than 2,000 illegal crossings were registered at the border of EU member Lithuania with Belarus in July alone.
From the EU's point of view, this is being done deliberately by the government in Minsk. Lukashenko had openly threatened to allow people from countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria to cross the border in response to the EU sanctions.