United front: West tightens sanctions on Belarus, urges prisoner release

The United States imposed sanctions on Belarusian entities on Friday for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine. The restrictions targeted 19 individuals and 14 legal entities. The EU, USA, UK, and Canada also called for the release of political prisoners by Alexander Lukashenko's regime.

As highlighted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Friday's statement, the sanctions target individuals supporting Russia's war against Ukraine through the production of military resources and the shipping of goods to Russia. Restrictions were also imposed for sanction evasion and revenue generation for Belarusian oligarchs surrounding Alexander Lukashenko.

Among the sanctioned entities is Belarusian company Peleng, which produces parts for spacecraft, satellites, and military vehicles. The department noted that the company is an important industrial partner for Russia. A Belarusian aircraft was also subjected to the sanctions.

It should be recalled that according to the Belarusian opposition, BELPOL, "the company Peleng produces several types of sights for the Russian army, including the PKP panoramic tank sight, which significantly enhances the combat capabilities of Russian military vehicles" - reported "Dziennik Gazeta Prawna" in March 2024.

The American sanctions were announced based on an executive order signed by Joe Biden in 2021. Friday marks the fourth anniversary of the fraudulent elections in Belarus, which declared Lukashenko as the winner. In protest of the election fraud, Belarusians took to the streets.

The Treasury noted that the decision to impose sanctions was made jointly with the UK and Canada.

Meanwhile, the European Union, together with the United States, the UK, and Canada, issued a statement on Friday concerning the fourth anniversary of the fraudulent elections. "We call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release nearly 1,400 political prisoners held in Belarusian jails," emphasized the EU and the three Western countries.

They do not rule out additional sanctions to "hold accountable those who enable Lukashenko's regime to suppress democracy in Belarus."

We will also continue to take significant steps to expose and cut off the flow of key support and components through Belarus, which fuel Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine, while maintaining support for the Belarusian people - the statement read.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stated that her country is imposing sanctions on 10 individuals and six legal entities "in response to their involvement in ongoing and systemic human rights violations in Belarus," Reuters reported.

In response to Lukashenko's regime's actions, the EU also imposed numerous restrictions on Belarus. The latest sanctions were implemented on August 5. Altogether, the sanctions list includes 261 individuals and 37 entities from Belarus, which involves, among other things, freezing their assets and banning them from entering the EU.

"We confirm that the recently announced sanctions represent a coordinated, multilateral effort to increase accountability for Lukashenko's regime," read the Friday statement from the EU and the three Western countries.