EU voices support for political prisoners, Belarus sanctions not on agenda

May 22, BPN. The European Union’s foreign policy chief has said that the bloc will not consider any new sanctions against Belarus at a meeting of foreign ministers.

Josep Borrell told reporters before the Foreign Affairs Council that the issue of sanctions was not on the agenda.

Borrell expressed solidarity with more than 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus, saying they are “in a very dire situation.”

“It’s important to remember them, to continue supporting them and to continue putting pressure on the Łukašenka regime,” he said.

Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja urged the EU to not only maintain the existing sanctions, but also to intensify them. She said Alaksandr Łukašenka is involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine and the forcible displacement of Ukrainian children.