The European Parliament calls for further sanctions against Lukashenko

Last week, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for further economic sanctions and other measures against Alexander Lukashenko and his regime in Belarus.

With 626 votes for and 16 votes against, the European Parliament denounced the hijacking of a civilian aircraft in May, which subsequently made it possible for the authorities of Belarus to arrest journalist Raman Pratasevich and detain his girlfriend. In the resolution, the parliament joined the calls from the leader of democratic Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and called for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus. The parliament is calling for further sanctions against Belarusian state owned industry and against prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers and other officials involved in supporting Lukashenko and upholding his unlawful rule.

The adopted resolution also called for the suspension of Belarus in international sport championships, and to withdraw broadcasting rights of international sport events to the state owned public broadcaster TVR, which has been leading in the propaganda efforts of the dictatorship.