Opposition leader urges EU to close loopholes for Łukašenka’s regime

February 9, BPN. New European Union’s sanctions against Alaksandr Łukašenka’s regime, including on potash, “must be tougher and close loopholes instead of creating new ones,” said Belarusian opposition leader Sviatłana Cichanoŭskaja.

“Potash is a critical source of funds for the regime to fuel repression, terror and war,” she tweeted. “Stay consistent and don’t ease pressure on the dictator.”

A day earlier, Pavieł Łatuška of the opposition’s transition cabinet said that the European Union considered lifting personal sanctions against Ivan Hałavaty, CEO of potash giant Biełaruskali, to pave the way for lifting sectoral sanctions against the entire potash industry later.

In 2021, the European Union, United States, UK and Canada imposed sanctions on Biełaruskali. In February 2022, Lithuania halted the transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers via Klaipėda.

Over the past few years, democratic countries have imposed sanctions on Belarus over human rights abuses and the country’s complicity in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.