EU to keep sanctioning Belarusian regime – ambassador

June 21, BPN. The European Union will continue to impose sanctions against Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime and support civil society in Belarus, the EU’s envoy to Belarus Dirk Schuebel told the Kalinowski Conference in the European Parliament on June 21.

The diplomat said the bloc has already imposed six sanctions packages on the regime, but would not reject any attempts by Łukašenka to engage with the EU.

According to Schuebel, sanctions have had an impact on the Belarusian economy, which contracted by 3.5% in the first five months of 2022. He said that annual GDP may decline by 9%.

He also pointed at the shrinking industrial production and foreign trade and high inflation.

Schuebel went on to say that the regime is trying to distance itself from the Kremlin, but it cannot make independent political and military decisions.

The regime’s fate to a great extent depends on the outcome of the war in Ukraine, he added.

The diplomat noted that most Belarusians oppose their country’s participation in Putin’s war.

Speaking of the EU’s support for Belarusians, he said the bloc allocated €65 million to defense of the civil society’s and repression victims’ rights. On top of that, €6 million were allocated to small and medium businesses, and €1 million to independent media.

The EU should now help those Belarusians who were forced to leave Ukraine with visas and other issues, he concluded.