Will Lukashenka take new hostages in reply to economic sanctions?

The dictator can ban going abroad for about 200 oppositionists, and evict ambassadors of the European Union in case economic sanctions would be imposed by the EU.

Interfax-Zapad agency was informed about that on Thursday by a source in the administration of the so-called president.

“The Belarusian side views such statements about sanctions calmly; we are at work on a number of counter-measures. In the comprehensive plan of possible counter-moves, a ban on going abroad for a number of Belarusian oppositionists, who are most active in urging and continue urging the EU authorities to impose economic sanctions against the Belarusian nation, is provided for,” stressed the representative of the administration.

“The preliminary list already includes more than 200 persons. These persons are to be banned leaving the country, including the way through the territory of Russia, considering the unified migration policy of the two countries,” said the interlocutor of the agency.

Besides, as said by him, “the Belarusian authorities are also ready with the help of mass media to clarify to the wide Belarusian public the grounds of these measures, including furnishing concrete facts of oppositionists’ actions related to the matter, which had been aimed at deteriorating social and political situation in the country and well-being of the Belarusian nation.”

The representative of the presidential administration does not exclude that “some Ambassadors of the EU countries would be offered to leave Belarus. They will be those who instead of developing mutually respecting and friendly relations with the host country, consistently forced pursuing an anti-Belarusian line on their governments.”