The European Union stepped up sanctions against Belarus on Monday as officials doubled down on allegations that President Alexander Lukashenko took migrants and refugees to the bloc’s borders to undermine their security, where thousands of others are now stranded in freezes such as political tensions. climb on the crisis.
The EU has agreed to tighten sanctions against Minsk and “anyone involved” in smuggling migrants to the Belarusian border, it said on Monday.
The sanctions, which will target Americans and organizations with asset freezes and bans, complement existing sanctions imposed after last year’s fraudulent presidential election and President Lukashenko’s crackdown on similar protests.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the sanctions would also come with sanctions opposed to airlines believed to be concerned about the crisis, according to Al Jazeera.
Lukashenko, described as “Europe’s last dictator,” strenuously denies accusations that his regime is actively encouraging, if not helping, migrants succeed on its border with Europe to destabilize the bloc and return to sanctions opposed to Belarus.
The Kremlin proposed on Monday to act as an intermediary between Belarus and the EU to reach the deadlock.
Russia is rejecting accusations that it played a role in fueling the crisis after Western officials reported that President Vladimir Putin was seeking to destabilize the region.
Iraq has said it will begin repatriating citizens to the border for those who wish to return, but it is unclear how many citizens are at the border or how many would decide to return if they could. said the government was aware of 571 citizens stranded at the border who said they would return. It’s an offer that some, at least, have indicated they might not accept, according to Al Jazeera.
Tensions at the border are maximum and situations become more complicated as temperatures drop. According to The Guardian, between 10,000 and 20,000 more people are stranded at the border, where Polish forces have piled up to prevent migrants from crossing. he died in recent months, according to the Washington Post.
EU prepares to sanction Belarus, Europe’s ‘last dictatorship’: why (Forbes)
‘On Europe’s frozen borders with migrants caught in a fatal game’ (The Guardian)