Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Discusses New Sanctions Against Lukashenka With Foreign Ambassadors

• 17.11.2020, 12:02

The time has come for decisive economic measures.

On November 16, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the ambassadors of Denmark, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Ireland and a representative of the Nordic Council to discuss the events of the past weekend. This was reported by the Telegram channel of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Sviatlana said that the situation requires decisive action: the time has come for economic sanctions against state-owned enterprises and firms associated with Lukashenka, the suspension of financial development programs that go through the state, stopping cooperation with state-owned banks - in particular, with Belarusbank and Belagroprombank. A limitation on the purchase of oil products from Belarus and other products of state-owned enterprises was also discussed. All of these measures are associated with a clear escalation of violence by the regime.

It is expected that this week the EU countries will introduce a new package of individual sanctions, and discuss the introduction of economic sanctions.

Ambassadors at the meeting said that their countries are already providing and expanding assistance to Belarusian journalists, families of political prisoners, activists, workers and students. The ambassadors also supported the initiation of an international investigation of crimes against the people of Belarus within the framework of universal jurisdiction.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said that after Lukashenka's resignation Belarus will join the International Criminal Court, which deals with cases of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. This will guarantee an independent and impartial trial of the regime's accomplices and will prevent them from escaping punishment.

Sviatlana also called on the diplomats who are in Belarus to be more active at protest rallies, because their presence protects people from unjustified violence by the regime.