U.S., U.K. and Canada impose new sanctions on Belarus on anniversary of rigged election

Jacob Knutson
·3 min read

The U.S., U.K. and Canada imposed an array of new sanctions against Belarus on Monday, the first anniversary of a fraudulent election that triggered a national protest movement and a brutal crackdown by the country's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Why it matters: Previous Western sanctions have so far done little to influence Lukashenko's behavior as he clings to power — with the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin — by jailing his political opponents, arresting journalists and publicly attacking those who criticize his regime.

Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.

  • The new sanctions target the country's potash, oil and tobacco exports, its defense, transportation and construction sectors, and several prominent business leaders.

  • The sanctions are designed to increase pressure on Lukashenko's regime while reducing consequences for Belarus's wider population.

What they're saying: "Rather than respect the clear will of the Belarusian people, the Lukashenka regime perpetrated election fraud, followed by a brutal campaign of repression to stifle dissent," President Biden said in a statement.

  • "From detaining thousands of peaceful protesters, to imprisoning more than 500 activists, civil society leaders, and journalists as political prisoners, to forcing the diversion of an international flight in an affront to global norms, the actions of the Lukashenka regime are an illegitimate effort to hold on to power at any price," he added.

The other side: "You are America's lapdogs," a furious Lukashenko responded on Monday when asked about the U.K.'s sanctions, telling London they can "choke on them," according to Reuters.

The big picture: U.S. and several other countries no longer recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus following the blatantly rigged election, in which he claimed to have won a landslide victory over pro-democracy opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

  • Lukashenko maintains that he won the election fairly and that his crackdown on opposition is his attempt to defend Belarus against a plotted coup, according to Reuters.

  • His security forces have detained hundreds of protesters and opposition activists. In May, Belarusian agents were accused of calling in a fake bomb threat to divert a Ryanair plane carrying an opposition activist, who was subsequently arrested.

  • Lukashenko's regime received widespread criticism during the Tokyo Olympics when Belarusian sprinter said she feared for her safety after she was ordered to return home following her criticism of Belarusian coaches. She defected and received asylum in Poland.

Biden met in July with Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to flee to Lithuania after the post-election crackdown last year. During their meeting, Tsikhanouskaya gave the president a list of targets that she believed should be sanctioned, according to CNN.

  • "We appreciate the decision of [the U.S.] to expand sanctions against Lukashenka's regime," Tsikhanouskaya tweeted Monday.

  • "Though sanctions are not a silver bullet, they are designed to push the regime towards dialogue and stop its impunity. Thankful to the US for the principled position and support of Belarusians."

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences.
Update your settings here to see it.

Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.

Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting

Recommended Stories

  • Biden imposes sanctions against Belarus' Lukashenko regime

    President Joe Biden on Monday said the United States is levying new sanctions against Belarus, marking the one-year anniversary of Alexander Lukashenko's election as president in an election that the U.S. and international community have said was fraught with irregularities. In announcing the sanctions, the White House also noted the forced landing of a European airliner traveling through Belarus' airspace in order to arrest a prominent opposition journalist aboard.

  • CIA director Bill Burns to visit Israel, Palestinian Authority

    CIA director Bill Burns will visit Israel on Tuesday for the first time since assuming office for talks that are expected to focus on Iran, Israeli officials tell me. He's also expected to meet Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah.Why it matters: Burns will arrive in Jerusalem with tensions running hot between Israel and Iran over an alleged Iranian attack on an Israeli-linked oil tanker and amid escalation between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israeli-Lebanese border.Stay on top of the lat

  • Hezbollah chief Nasrallah says group could escalate its response to Israel

    BEIRUT (Reuters) -The leader of Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah said on Saturday that his group had chosen to respond to Israeli air strikes on open land, but could escalate its actions in the future. On Friday, Hezbollah fired rockets towards Israeli forces, drawing retaliatory fire from Israel into south Lebanon. Both sides targeted open land, indicating that they did not wish to escalate the salvos further.

  • Biden administration takes fresh action against Belarus' Lukashenko

    U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order imposing new measures aimed at punishing Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko as the United States steps up pressure against his government in coordinated action with the United Kingdom and Canada. On the anniversary of the presidential election Lukashenko is accused of rigging, the United States will also issue its largest round of sanctions to date on Belarusian individuals and entities, targeting the country's economy and the Belarusian National Olympic Committee, a White House official said. The U.S. Treasury Department will blacklist Belaruskali OAO, which the official said is one of Belarus’ largest state-owned enterprises and one of the world’s largest producers of potash, which is used in fertilizers and is Belarus' main foreign currency earner.

  • GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy says he disagrees with Ron DeSantis's pandemic policies

    Republican Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy revealed on Sunday that he disagrees with some of the pandemic policies of GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

  • Inflation, crime and border crossings create a perfect midterm storm for GOP

    Inflation, rising crime and the border surge are positioning Republicans for even bigger midterm gains than they'd imagined just months ago.Why it matters: President Biden has preached bipartisanship. Strident Democrats are pushing for hard-left positions enacted through their control of Congress and the White House. But the daily headlines are boosting the GOP's arguments as it seeks to regain control of at least one chamber in 2022.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights

  • Brookfield reinsurance unit to buy American National for $5.1 billion

    Started in 1905 by William Lewis Moody Jr., American National is majority-owned by the founder's family, which controls the company through a range of trusts and holdings. American International Group, for example, plans to use an initial public offering to sell part of its life and retirement business, while Blackstone Group last month agreed to buy a sizeable stake. Canada's Brookfield said in October it would acquire a stake in American Equity Investment Life Holding Co and grant the fixed index annuity provider access to Brookfield's alternative assets.

  • Tanzania President Samia: We're here to show that women can lead

    When Samia Suluhu Hassan first became Tanzania's president some doubted her, she tells the BBC.

  • Cuomo likely the latest top New York Democrat felled by sex scandal

    Details of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's alleged sexual harassment of female staff members and even a female bodyguard would be shocking if they weren't so familiar.

  • Police investigate overnight violence in Boston

    A shooting in Dorchester is under investigation.

  • This Supplement Can Raise Your Heart Attack Risk, Experts Say

    During the same week the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) said it would not recommend that taking vitamins and supplements can prevent heart disease and cancer, a new study has come out saying one of the most popular supplements out there may be dangerous to a subset of those who are prescribed it. The supplement—Omega-3 fatty acids—is the third most popular in America, according to one recent ConsumerLab survey, with 52% of respondents saying they have taken it in the past

  • Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen says NFL won't 'strong-arm' him into vaccination

    Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen was recently on the NFL's COVID-19 list as a close contact. He has no plan to get the vaccine. Here's why.

  • Alibaba fires manager over suspected sexual assault

    China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba, said Monday it fired a manager accused of sexual assault and pledged to strengthen its anti-sexual harassment policy, after a female employee accused the company of suppressing her report of the assault. The unidentified female employee went public Saturday with an internal post detailing the alleged sexual assault by her manager and a client during a business trip, according to local media reports. The employee said the company didn't take the matter seriously when she reported the assault, and that she was told the suspect would not be fired from the company, according to her post.

  • ‘Hacks’ Co-Creator Jen Statsky Extends Universal Television Overall Deal

    Jen Statsky has extended her overall deal with Universal Television. Statsky is the co-creator, co-showrunner and executive producer of the HBO Max comedy series “Hacks.” The series, which she created alongside collaborators Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs, recently earned 15 Emmy nominations and was renewed for a second season. Statsky received two Emmy Award nominations […]

  • Israel PM: Lebanon responsible for attacks, Hezbollah or not

    Israel's prime minister said Sunday he holds the Lebanese government responsible for rocket fire launched from its territory, whether the Hezbollah militant group launched the weapons or not. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's comments came days after one of the heaviest flareups in violence between Israel and Hezbollah in several years and indicated Israel could expand its response if the rocket fire continues. “The country of Lebanon and the army of Lebanon have to take responsibility (for) what happens in its backyard,” Bennett told his Cabinet.

  • Jeffrey Clark, Trump-appointed DOJ official, claimed Chinese thermostats changed votes in 2020 election, reports say

    In recently released emails from December, Jeffrey Clark wrote to his DOJ superiors and asked them to look into "foreign election interference issues."

  • RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who previously said the committee would be neutral in the 2024 election, says Trump 'still leads the party'

    McDaniel told the AP in January that the RNC would not pick a preferred candidate even if Trump were to jump into the 2024 GOP presidential primary.

  • Trump's spokesperson attacked Fox News after his election fraud lies were edited out of a interview on YouTube

    "Fox News EDITED and CHANGED what President Trump said," Liz Harrington claimed in a tweet after Trump's interview on Saturday.

  • Trump 'Imagines' How People Would Squawk Had COVID-19 'Attack' Erupted On His Watch

    More than 400,000 Americans died of COVID-19 during the Trump administration.

  • Trump 2020 legal adviser Jenna Ellis joins rally for impeachment

    Jenna Ellis, a senior legal adviser to former President Donald Trump's 2020 campaign, said on Saturday that President Joe Biden should be impeached, adding her voice to a growing chorus of high-profile conservatives in the media fed up with the current administration.