Mike Pompeo
The US State Department has imposed visa restrictions on 39 people involved in “undermining Belarusian democracy.” The new sanctions were announced in a statement by the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“The State Department took measures (…), identifying 39 persons responsible for undermining Belarusian democracy, and introduced visa restrictions in relation to them,” the message says. It is clarified that the number of citizens who fell under Washington's sanctions in connection with the above reason has reached 63.
The message also states that Washington “continues to support international efforts to independently investigate violations” that allegedly took place in the elections held in Belarus. “We are in solidarity with the Belarusian people and support their right to free and fair elections,” the statement reads.
Earlier it was reported that the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions against one individual and four organizations from Belarus due to the “undermining of democratic processes and institutions” in the country. The sanctions list included the first deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus Gennady Kazakevich, the Central Commission of Belarus on elections and holding republican referendums, the Minsk police department, the Minsk OMON detachment and the Alfa KGB special forces.
On December 17, the European Union approved the third package of sanctions against Belarus in connection with the “ongoing repression against civil society.” 29 new names and 7 enterprises were added to the sanctions list. On December 18, Great Britain joined the new sanctions.
Minsk responded in a mirror-like manner to the new restrictions and expanded its own sanctions list by banning entry to a number of people from the EU countries. In addition to the introduction of personal sanctions, the Belarusian leadership decided to limit the activities of a number of political foundations, various humanitarian and educational programs, including those that are held under the patronage of foreign embassies.
