EU, UK Advocate for Sanctions Against Belarus

The European Union and the United Kingdom plan to sanction Belarusian authorities for their violence against peaceful protesters after the country’s presidential elections earlier this month. The EU is working on “new listings for sanctions against those responsible for violence,” Josep Borrell, EU’s foreign policy chief, said Aug. 18. U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the EU needs to conduct an “independent investigation” into Belarus’ elections. “The UK will work with our international partners to sanction those responsible, and hold the Belarusian authorities to account,” Raab said. Borrell said EU heads of state will discuss sanctions actions during an Aug. 19 meeting.