Lukašenka disappointed that Japan declared Belarus an unfriendly country and imposed sanctions

March 20, BPN. Aliaksandr Lukašenka told Japan’s TBS that he was “very disappointed” with Japan’s sanctions against Belarus. The interview was recorded on March 17. Belarus 1 broadcast its edited version on March 19.

TV anchor Shigenori Kanehira noted that relations between Minsk and Tokyo “are getting tense,” as the Japanese government declared Belarus an “unfriendly country.”

“It disappoints me quite a bit,” Lukašenka replied. “I never thought you’d be siding with the U.S. As we say, you would be an errand boy for your ‘big brother.’ We cooperated with you in coping with the Chernobyl disaster. We worked with you more than with anyone else. But then you ran after America and imposed some kind of dubious sanctions against us.”

Japan has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Minsk since the start of the Russian war against Ukraine, where Belarus is believed to be an accomplice in the military aggression.

To date, Aliaksandr Lukašenka together his sons Viktar and Dzmitry, are under sanctions by the Japanese government.

The restrictions also apply to the Belarusian State Military Industry Committee, Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant, BelTechExport, AGAT Electromechanical Plant, 140 Repair Plant, Belšyna, Sinesis, Dana Holdings (Dana Astra), Sohra, Bremino, JSC NNK, Hrodna Azot, as well as Belahraprambank, Dabrabyt Bank, and the Development Bank of Belarus.

On February 24, Russia started a war against Ukraine, officially called a “special military operation.” Authorities in Minsk deny Belarusian army troops’ involvement in combat operations on the Russian side. At the same time, Russian army uses Belarus for strikes on Ukraine. Moreover, captured Russian soldiers confessed that they had entered Ukraine from Belarus.

In connection with the act of military aggression, democratic countries have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, while significant restrictive measures, albeit on a smaller scale, were introduced against Belarus, whose authorities provided territory and infrastructure for Russian troops.