EU Imposes Sanctions on Belarus for Crackdown and Pro-Russian Stance

The European Union has imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials involved in the crackdown on anti-government activists, as well as media personnel and a company accused of supporting Russia's war on Ukraine. The sanctions include travel bans, asset freezes, and an export ban on firearms and the aviation and space industries. This brings the total number of individuals and entities subject to EU restrictive measures to over 230 and almost 40, respectively, since President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election in 2020. Belarusian journalists and activists have faced widespread repression, with thousands arrested and independent media outlets shut down.