US imposes sanctions on Belarusian officials for 'falsifying' election results

United States has imposed sanctions on eight Belarusian officials for ir alleged role in falsifying results of Presidential elections and violent crackdown on protesters. US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated those individuals following EU sanctions on 40 people, including interior minister and head of election commission.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko assumed his sixth term in office in a secret inauguration ceremony amid continued protests against regime over disputed election results. Lukashenko has dismissed concerns of protesters, calling m “sheep" controlled from abroad. He claimed that protesters received calls from Poland, Britain and Czech Republic and were acting on ir direction.

US Treasury Department said that action was taken in coordination with UK, Canada, and EU to demonstrate international community’s solidarity. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement that democratic aspirations of people of Belarus have been met with violence and oppression from Belarusian officials.

“ United States and our international partners stand united in imposing costs on those who have undermined Belarusian democracy for years,” he added.

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Retaliatory sanctions

Belarus protests entered its eighth week despite multiple reports of arrest and crackdowns on anti-government demonstrations. EU spared Lukashenko from sanctions, in line with its policy of punishing powerbrokers as a last resort. Belarusian government, whose legitimacy is under scanner, anunced retaliatory sanctions against unidentified officials and recalled its envoys from Poland and Lithuania. 

Threatening “more serious consequences” if EU intensifies “sanctions flywheel”, Belarusian Foreign Ministry said that it could abandon joint programs and projects or revise diplomatic relations it currently shares with union. ministry added that Belarus has always been against confrontation but is determined to respond to “unfriendly actions” to protect national security.

“Belarus is always, in words and in deeds, against confrontation. We are for dialogue and understanding. But as a sovereign state, we’re also determined, albeit t without regret, to respond to unfriendly actions in order to naturally defend our national interests,” statement read.

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Read: European Union Slaps Sanctions On Belarus Officials For 'falsifying' Election Results