{"id":188680,"date":"2026-05-22T18:07:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:07:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188680\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T18:07:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T15:07:54","slug":"latuska-defends-sanctions-as-tool-to-change-minsks-domestic-and-foreign-course","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188680\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141atu\u0161ka defends sanctions as tool to change Minsk\u2019s domestic and foreign course"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Pozirk)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

May 22, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Opposition politician Pavie\u0142 \u0141atu\u0161ka has called for continued sanctions pressure on Alaksanadar \u0141uka\u0161enka and his officials in his address to the Congress on Political Prisoners in Vilnius. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPressure is never an end in itself,\u201d he noted, adding that sanctions are not merely a punishment but a tool of influence aimed at forcing a change in repressive domestic policies and aggressive foreign policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanctions are currently the United States\u2019 main leverage in dealing with the regime in Minsk and have become a tool for securing the release of some jailed dissidents, \u0141atu\u0161ka said, commenting on their effectiveness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The politician added that some voices in the public sphere argue that pressure is no longer needed and that sanctions should be lifted in favor of negotiations. However, he stressed that restrictions were imposed not only over human rights concerns. \u0141atu\u0161ka also cited his communication with the American side, where there is reportedly an understanding that not all sanctions can be lifted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The politician stressed that hundreds of people remain behind bars in Belarus in politically-motivated cases, while authorities in Minsk continue supporting Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine. Moreover, reprisals continue to target people both inside Belarus and abroad, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanctions should reduce the capabilities and resources of Russia and Belarus that wage a war against Ukraine and the hybrid war against Europe, \u0141atu\u0161ka argued, adding that restrictions should also pressure the authorities to change their repressive domestic policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian pro-democracy forces are calling on the European Union not to engage in dialogue with \u0141uka\u0161enka until he ends politically motivated persecution of his opponents and decriminalizes political and civic activity, the politician said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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