US to expand sanctions against Belarus: Obama
May 28th, 2011 - 5:29 am ICT by IANS
Washington, May 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The US is set to expand sanctions against Belarus, US President Barack Obama said in a statment Friday.
“Consistent with our values and principles, the US Government will pursue new sanctions against Belarusian state-owned enterprises, in addition to the sanctions, travel restrictions, and asset freezes announced Jan 31,” Obama said in the statement, adding that these measures were targeted “against those responsible for the repression, particularly President [Alexander] Lukashenko, and are not directed against the people of Belarus.”
Obama’s statement came after four former Belarusian opposition presidential candidates were put in jail on charges of organising mass protests Dec 19 after the Belarusian presidential elections, internationally viewed as rigged.
Incumbent President Lukashenko, dubbed “Europe’s Last Dictator,” won a fourth term in office with almost 80 percent of the vote. More than 600 people were detained after large-scale protests broke out in the capital of Minsk.
“In a major step backward for democracy in Belarus, their trials were clearly politically motivated and failed to meet even the most minimal standards required of a fair and independent judiciary,” Obama said referring to jailed Vladimir Neklyaev, Vitaly Rymashevsky, Andrei Sannikov and Dmitry Uss.
- Suspended sentences for Belarus opposition activists - May 21, 2011
- Belarus jails two more former presidential candidates - May 27, 2011
- Obama urges more pressure on Belarus' Lukashenko - May 29, 2011
- Five opposition protesters sentenced to jail in Belarus - May 06, 2011
- EU imposes travel and economic sanctions on Belarusian officials - Feb 01, 2011
- Belarus calls off nuclear fuel swap programme with US - Aug 19, 2011
- EU High Representative Ashton meets with Belarusian delegation - Jan 13, 2011
- 11 dead in Minsk metro blast: Belarus president (Lead) - Apr 12, 2011
- Belarus urged to release political prisoners - Dec 19, 2011
- Russian human rights activist detained in Minsk - Apr 29, 2011
- Belarusian police cordon off Minsk central square to quell protest - Jun 16, 2011
- Belarusian police charge 31 people in post-election unrest - Jan 12, 2011
- Olympics: Belarus denies boycott rumours - Jul 27, 2012
- Opposition presidential candidate freed after being detained in post-election rally - Jan 04, 2011
- Belarus to abolish death penalty after US: President - Dec 24, 2011
Tags: alexander lukashenko, andrei, barack obama, incumbent president, independent judiciary, large scale, last dictator, mass protests, minimal standards, minsk, president alexander lukashenko, presidential candidates, presidential elections, repression, ria novosti, sanctions, state owned enterprises, travel restrictions, vitaly, vladimir