USA Warned About Sanctions Against Lukashenka's Regime Because Of Situation With Kalesnikava

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has made a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that Washington, together with partners, is considering the introduction of new sanctions against Minsk in connection with the situation around Maryja Kalesnikava, a member of the Coordinating Council, Reuters reports.

- The United States, in coordination with our partners and allies, is considering additional targeted sanctions to ensure the accountability of those involved in human rights violations and repression in Belarus, - Pompeo said.

According to him, Washington is deeply concerned about reports of what is happening against Kalesnikava and other members of the Coordinating Council of the Belarusian opposition, including Anton Radniankou and Ivan Krautsou.

The Secretary of State called on the Belarusian authorities to stop violence against the people, release all detainees, including U.S. citizen Vital Shkliarau, and "to start a constructive dialogue with genuine representatives of Belarusian society".

The abduction of Kalesnikava became known on September 7. According to the Coordination Council of the opposition, she, as well as her press secretary Anton Radniankou and executive secretary Ivan Krautsou were abducted by unknown people in the center of Minsk.

The next day, the Belarusian Television News Agency reported that Kalesnikava had been detained on the border with Ukraine. According to the channel, Krautsou and Radniankou pushed Kalesnikava out of the car and crossed the border on their own. They also published Krautsou's statement about his decision to leave the country, which, according to the Belarus 1 channel, was discovered on his phone that had been found at the scene.

Later, Deputy Interior Minister Anton Herashchanka said that Krautsou and Radniankou had been forcibly expelled from Belarus. He pointed out that the expulsion of Kalesnikava was not possible because she had "taken steps to prevent her transfer". Interfax-Ukraine, citing its own sources, reported that Kalesnikava had torn her passport. Anton Bychkouski, an official representative of the Border Committee of Belarus, told RBC that Kalesnikava's passport was in order when she was crossing the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.

According to the headquarters of the unregistered presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, Kalesnikava is currently staying in the Mazyr border guard detachment of Homel region.