Media: New EU Sanctions To Target Lukashenka's Entourage

Restrictions will also affect propagandists and security officials.

The new EU sanctions could be aimed at Aliaksandr Lukashenka's immediate entourage, which is not yet subject to restrictions. However, the dictator's youngest son, Mikalai, is unlikely to come under sanctions.

This was stated by an anonymous representative of the European External Action Service to EuObserver.

The reporters of the newspaper asked him to comment on the publication of the Belarusian Investigative Center on foreign trips of Hanna Lukashenka, wife of Dzmitry Lukashenka, as well as persons close to her family.

The EU last updated its sanctions against Belarus, which also include economic measures, in March on the grounds of "Belarus' role in Russia's military aggression against Ukraine". The previous sanctions covered those responsible for "unacceptable violence against peaceful demonstrators" and those "closely associated with a number of well-known companies that have benefited from the Lukashenka regime."

The official said that so far there are no specific proposals on sanctions against Belarus on the table. We are talking about extending restrictions against Russia, but even these sanctions are progressing slowly.

"The existing sanctions against Belarus are regularly reviewed in the light of developments on the ground," said the EU foreign ministry spokesman, responding to a question about whether any additional "blacklisting" was planned.

Asked what would have to happen in Belarus to trigger a new round of EU measures, the source added: "Let's pray that nothing happens, because people there already can't breathe".

However, if there is another round, it is likely to target the remaining members of Lukashenka's clan, as well as propagandists and security forces, the EU source added.

According to the source, Lukashenka's student son Nikolai will not be targeted because of his youth, unless he has "personally committed a serious crime".

"But if Hanna [Lukashenka] is still happily flying around the EU, we must pay attention to that," the source added.

As a reminder, EU sanctions have already been imposed against Lukashenka's eldest sons Dzmitry and Viktar, as well as Viktar's wife Liliya.