EU to decide on sanctions against Belarus over election result

Sweden’s top European Union diplomat said on Wednesday that ministers would meet on Friday to discuss targeted sanctions against Belarus over the contested presidential election result.

The bloc is concerned about Sunday’s elections and the violent crackdown of protesters that succeeded the controversial result. On Sunday, Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, claimed victory with around 80% of the vote.

Three nights of violent clashes between opposition supporters and security forces followed the elections resulting in the death of a protester.

“I absolutely think we need to consider broadening targeted sanctions against those responsible for the violence against the protesters (and) for the election fraud - those involved in the electoral process not having turned out free and fair,” the Swedish official told local radio on Wednesday

“This morning there has been a summons to an extraordinary EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Friday where we will discuss precisely this (sanctions),” she told the public broadcaster.

Any decision on sanctions requires agreement by all 27 EU member states, meaning no imminent move is expected.

The decision could take weeks or months, but the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, on Tuesday already condemned what he called “disproportionate” violence by Belarus authorities against protesters and said the EU could take unspecified measures.

Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said in a letter to Borrell, that the Friday meeting should “show support for the peaceful protesters and exchange ideas on how the EU could help them”, Reuters reported.