Free Belarus Now: Belarusian authorities act through their agents of influence in Europe

Free Belarus Now campaign has released a statement.

Since the moment of suppression of a peaceful protest demonstration against the rigged presidential elections, Free Belarus Now civil campaign has consistently been standing for imposing targeted sanctions against the people involved in the crackdown on protest actions, prosecution of political opponents and financing the dictatorial regime.

We are confident there are no premises to lift sanctions now. No one of the persons from the EU blacklist has changed his attitude towards the events in Belarus. Rectors sent students to medical checks to learn who had traces of beating and then expelled those who took part in protests. No educational reform is possible today.

It is not coincidence that businessman VladimrPeftiyev was put on the blacklist – his company is subject to the US sanctions after having been caught in arms supplies to rogue states. Peftiyev runs business under patronage of Lukashenka together with Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s family members.

The Belarusian authorities make attempts to lift the visa ban through their agents of influence in Europe. At the same time, they do not weaken repression in Belarus, but even strengthen it. In this situation, lifting sanctions is a signal to the Belarusian authorities that they are on the right way when they fire people from work for their political views, expel students from universities, arrest dissidents and use torture.

We insist that sanctions should not be lifted, but should be extended, including imposing economic sanctions, adding new officials, law enforcement officers, representatives of courts and businessmen working under Lukashenka’s patronage to the blacklist.