Alexander Lukashenko will reportedly not be included in the EU sanctions package due to the position voiced by Germany, Italy, and France.
That's according to Die Welt citing its sources.
Three countries at once agreed that communication "channels with Lukashenko should be kept open", no matter the circumstances.
Read alsoBelarus gov't site hacked to put Lukashenko on "wanted list"After all, the publication claims, putting the Belarusian leader on the "black list" would mean severing the dialogue with Minsk.
Earlier, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry proposed introducing national sanctions against over a hundred Belarusian officials, as well as personally against President Alexander Lukashenko.
An EU official earlier said in a comment to Reuters about a moderate set of sanctions being considered against those responsible for violently dispersing protests in Belarus in August.
"What we need to assess is the level of pressure that would be useful versus what would be counterproductive and risk pushing Lukashenko into Russia’s arms if he sees this as his only possibility to stay in power," said the EU source close to the matter
Sanctions on Belarus: background
- On August 19, leaders of the EU member states agreed to apply sanctions against Belarus in response to election rigging and the use of violence against protesters.
- The EU did not recognize the presidential election result.
- Baltic States on August 31 declared Alexander Lukashenko, along with other 29 Belarusian officials, persona non grata.
- In a separate move, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia agreed to sever trade in electricity with Belarus.
- A Reuters source in the U.S. said it was considering sanctions against Belarus officials.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine would consider the issue of imposing sanctions against Belarus after the relevant decision was made by the European Union.
