Belarusian foreign minister says integration with Russia reduces sanctions impact

January 19, BPN. Belarusian Foreign Minister Siarhiej Alejnik has said integration between Belarus and Russia can reduce the impact of Western sanctions on both countries.

“We perfectly understand that illegal sanctions pressure on our states objectively requires us to coordinate our actions more closely, including the development of joint retaliatory steps,” he said following the Belarusian and Russian foreign ministries’ annual board meeting in Minsk on January 19.

“All sanctions are obviously aimed at causing maximum damage to our citizens and creating maximum discomfort. But the past year has shown us that any damage can be minimized through closer cooperation and integration,” he said, as quoted on the Belarusian foreign ministry’s website.

“We will do everything possible to become even more stable and independent from Western politicians’ irresponsible decisions in the future,” he added.

According to him, a hybrid war has been unleashed against Belarus and Russia in order to undermine their statehood and independence. But the two countries will withstand, “as it has happened many times in our common history.”

Over the past few years, democratic nations have imposed multiple restrictions on Belarus over human rights violations. Sanctions have been imposed for alleged vote rigging in the 2020 presidential election, a brutal crackdown on protesters, the forced landing of a Ryanair flight, a migration crisis on the EU border, and support of Russia’s war in Ukraine.