Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya
In Washington, Tsikhanouskaya Urges the West To Enact Secondary Sanctions On Putin's Enablers
Top U.S. officials and Belarus' democratic opposition leaders this week discussed the Lukashenka regime’s continued support of Russia’s war against Ukraine and Washington's efforts to hold the regime accountable for its complicity, the State Department said on Friday.
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met with Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the State Department. Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined the group for part of the meeting.
"Deputy Secretary Sherman, together with Ms. Tsikhanouskaya, called for an end to the Lukashenka regime’s ongoing crackdown on democratic voices and for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus and emphasized the United States’ enduring support for the Belarusian people’s democratic aspirations" reads the State Department's statement.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Tsikhanouskaya said, during her meetings with key officials in Washington, she discussed both strengthening future sanctions and closing loopholes on existing ones.
She also presented the U.S. government with evidence of Lukashenko’s involvement in the Russian war in Ukraine.
For Tsikhanouskaya, sanctions “must be the same on strength” as those imposed on Russia “but different in structure,” and should target state banks and state enterprises, suggesting the use of secondary sanctions to close such loopholes.
“We see how Russia uses Belarus to circumvent their own sanctions,” she said, citing steel as an example.
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Politics
-
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova has decided to unilaterally terminate the Moldovan-Russian agreement from 1998 on the creation and operation of cultural centers.
-
By the order of the head of state, Rufat Mahmud has been appointed the new head of the historical and architectural reserve "Icheri Sheher" – the historic center of Baku.
-
On February 13, the Appeal Court did not satisfy the defense's appeal against the decision of the Khatai Court regarding the arrest of journalist Shahnaz Beylargizi. According to the lawyer, the journalist herself did not participate in the trial due to poor health. The defense intends to submit a petition to replace the arrest with house arrest.
-
Azerbaijan will limit 'Sputnik Azerbaijan' and 'BBC News Azərbaycanca' editorial offices. This was reported by the country's pro-government media on 13 February, citing an informed source.
Leave a review