UK, Canada impose new sanctions on Belarus after ‘sham election’ hands Lukashenko seventh term
Britain and Canada on Monday imposed coordinated sanctions on six Belarusian officials and three defence companies, one day after an election extended the rule of President Alexander Lukashenko to a seventh term after his major opponents were imprisoned or exiled.
Britain's foreign office on Monday said it had sanctioned six Belarus individuals and three defence sector firms, a day after a "sham election" in which autocrat Alexander Lukashenko won a seventh term.
"Following Lukashenko's brutal crackdown in which critical voices within Belarus have been silenced, yesterday's sham election failed to meet international standards and has been condemned by international partners," it said, adding that the sanctions were being imposed in coordination with Canada.
Official results showed the 70-year-old autocrat winning more than 86 percent of the vote, drawing condemnation in the West, after having imprisoned or exiled all his major opponents during his three-decade rule.
(AFP)
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