Conflicts & War

EU set to approve new package of sanctions against Belarus

Brussels, Nov 14 (EFE).- The European Union said on Sunday it was set to approve a new package of sanctions against Belarus on Monday after EU leaders denounced a “hybrid attack” against the EU by Minsk.

EU leaders and Western allies blame Belarus authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko of manufacturing a migration crisis to destabilise EU borders by bringing thousands of migrants to its frontiers with Poland and Lithuania.

Last week, Belarusian authorities escorted some 2,000 migrants, mainly from the Middle East and Asia, to the border with Poland.

Since, the refugees, including women and children, are enduring freezing weather conditions in the hopes to cross into the EU.

The new sanctions would be the fifth round of sanctions the EU imposes against Belarus.

The expanded legal framework would widen penalties and include sanctions on airlines and travel agencies complicit in transporting migrants to Belarus by freezing their assets in Europe.

As Brussels prepares new sanctions, Lukashenko has threatened to cut supply of gas to the bloc through the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline even though Russia president Vladimir Putin has advised against it as it would cause “great damage” to Europe.

Lukashenko denies manufacturing the migration crisis as revenge to already existing sanctions against Minsk related to human rights abuses. EFE

rja/mp/mg

Related Articles

Back to top button