The United States imposes visa sanctions against 43 citizens of Belarus, including high-ranking officials and representatives of Belarusian law enforcement agencies. This is reported in a statement by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
According to the US administration, those on the sanctions list are “ responsible for undermining democracy in Belarus.”
“Basically, they are denied the right to enter the United States,” the statement said.
In particular, high-ranking officials from the justice sector, heads of law enforcement agencies, and ordinary employees who detained protesters are subject to sanctions.
In addition, the measures apply to judges and prosecutors who participated in the sentencing of demonstrators to prison, as well as to representatives of university administrations who “threatened students” because of their participation in the protests.
Earlier, the official representative of the US State Department, Ned Price, said that the United States supports a peaceful political dialogue in Belarus.
In Belarus, the protests continue for the seventh month in a row. They began after the CEC of the republic declared Alexander Lukashenko the winner of the presidential election, which was held on August 9.
All the headquarters of the opposition candidates announced that they did not recognize their official results. The protesters were supported by employees of the largest industrial enterprises, declaring a strike. Security forces use special equipment, stun grenades, and rubber bullets against the demonstrators.
Later, former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya announced the creation of a Coordinating Council of the opposition in the country, which should facilitate the transfer of power. Lukashenko blamed Western countries for the protests and demanded that criminal cases be initiated against the members of the council.
