Sanction for sanction: Belarus announces reciprocal measures against the EU

(Patria) – The Belarusian government announced sanctions against the European Union on Friday due to restrictions against its high-ranking officials that the European bloc imposed just a few hours earlier.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus issued a statement accusing the EU of 'striving to set back mutual relations', and announcing a decision on sanctions against the bloc.

It is still unknown which EU officials have been placed on Minsk's list.

The statement also states that Belarus is 'word and deed always against confrontation. We are for dialogue and understanding. However, as a sovereign country, we are also determined, although not without regret, to respond to hostile actions in order to protect our national interests'.

Let us recall that the leaders of the EU 27 reached an agreement in the early morning hours of Friday to impose sanctions against about 40 officials of the Belarusian government for participating in the falsification of the presidential elections and the suppression of peaceful protests that followed the allegedly rigged extension of Alexander Lukashenko's term.

Most European countries and the US have not recognized the election results according to which Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, received 80% support.

President of the European Council Charles Michel reiterated the bloc's stance that 'the people of Belarus have the right to determine their own future', while the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that 'there is no forgiveness for those responsible for suppressing protests and the opposition', Euronews reports.