Linas Linkevičius: Sanctions Against Belarus Are The Least Europe Must Do

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister has called to conduct an independent international investigation into the violence against protesters.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius hopes that the European Union will decide on the issue of sanctions and says it's the least that the European bloc must do, delfi.lt reports.

"The voice of Europe has been heard, now it' time for tangible, clear actions, and the least we must do is announce sanctions. I hope that our colleagues in the European Union will not leave the EU in the dark, will not make it a hostage, because it's time to act," - L. Linkevičius said at a meeting of the EU External Relations Council in Brussels on Monday.

He stressed that the EU should not only resort to sanctions, but also support civil society and free media in Belarus.

The minister also called for an independent international inquiry into the violence against protesters.

Linkevičius warned that the current Belarusian authorities "have no moral right" to speak on behalf of people and sign any agreements, and stressed that a clear message about non-interference in the internal affairs of this country should be sent to Russia.