European Parliament warns against recognizing Belarus elections
February 8, Pozirk. The European Parliament has called on the European Union and the international community not to recognize the results of the upcoming elections for the House of Representatives and local councils in Belarus, citing the lack of transparency, freedom and justice in the country.
In a resolution today, it said the democratic opposition parties cannot compete in the elections. It condemned the recent wave of arrests in Belarus and called on its government to put an end to reprisals, including those based on gender.
European lawmakers said sanctions against the Alaksandar Łukašenka government should be tightened and include products made with the forced labor of political prisoners. Financial sanctions and restrictions on senior officials and security officers responsible for human rights violations should also be expanded, the appeal says.
The parliament also spoke in favor of further limiting Belarus’ diplomatic presence in the European Union and supporting regime victims through special instruments, which allow them to receive visas and residence permits for the EU.
EU to sanction a few dozen Belarusian, Russian officers – reports
February 7, Pozirk. The European Union plans to include "few dozen Belarusian and Russian military officers" in the 13th package of sanctions, EUobserver reports, citing its diplomatic sources. The new sanctions package will coincide with the second anniversary of Russia's …