The European Parliament Discusses Sanctions Against The Responsible for Blocking of Charter-97

Ban on transactions, freezing of assets and visa sanctions are offered.

Yesterday the European Parliament held an extended session (delegation on relations with Belarus). MEPs from all major factions of the European Parliament, representatives of the OSCE, European Commission and European External Action Service, human rights activists, employee of the Belarusian embassy in Belgium, were present at the meeting, Charter97.org informs.

The blocking of Charter-97 was one of the key topics. In addition, the meeting considered the past local "elections" and the strategy of relations between Belarus and the EU.

Public activist Dzyanis Kazakevich urged to impose sanctions against officials responsible for the blocking: Minister of Information Aliaksandr Karlyukevich, Deputy Minister of Information (director of the CTB TV channel) Ihar Lutski and head of the Executive Analytical Center Andrei Paulichenka. The activist proposed to ban entry into the EU, freeze assets and financial transactions on the territory of the EU for these persons.

MEP from Lithuania Petras Auštrevičius supported the idea of targeted sanctions. "It's a good idea. All performers are known," the MP noticed during the discussion.

Representatives of the European Commission noted that they "took into account" the proposal to impose targeted sanctions against those responsible for the blocking.

Dirk Schuebel, the head of Department of Bilateral Relations with Eastern Partnership Countries of the European External Action Service, expressed his support of Charter-97. "We have already opened the issue of blocking of the Charter at meetings with Belarusian diplomats. I promise we keep doing it," the diplomat pointed out.

After the meeting head of the European Parliament delegation on relations with Belarus Bogdan Zdroevskij informed that he had sent an official letter to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini requiring to take measures to support Charter-97.

After the meeting it is noteworthy that it was the first time when the blocking of Charter-97 and sanctions were discussed at such a level. Immediate sanctions should not be expected, nevertheless, Karlyukevich, Slutski and Paulichenka may already adjust plans for the vacation.