Estonia extends entry ban for Lukashenko allies, makes Belarus sanctions permanent
Photo: Margus Tsakhkna (Getty Images)
The Estonian government has decided to impose sanctions against Belarus indefinitely, extending the entry ban for key representatives of the Belarusian regime into the country, according to ERR.
The initiative was submitted by Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, emphasizing that the human rights situation in Belarus remains unchanged, and Minsk’s support for Russian aggression against Ukraine only reinforces the need for pressure.
"For almost five years after the imposition of sanctions, there have been no positive changes in Belarus. We cannot turn a blind eye to the repression, so the sanctions must remain without any time limit," said Tsahkna.
The list of individuals subject to sanctions includes 273 people, including high-ranking officials, judges, security forces, propagandists, and individuals close to Alexander Lukashenko. This includes Lukashenko himself, whom neither Estonia nor a number of other EU countries consider a legitimate head of state.
Sanctions were first introduced by Estonia in 2020 amid large-scale protests following the presidential elections in Belarus. Previously, they had been extended several times and were temporary.
What preceded
Last year the European Council extended anti-Russian sanctions to Belarus.
The agency emphasized that this step addresses the issue of circumventing sanctions, as there is a high level of integration between the Russian and Belarusian economies.
It was also reported that the restrictions imposed by the European Union against Belarus will affect Russia’s ability to bypass sanctions and obtain goods for the war in Ukraine.
