31 officials of the Republic were added to the list
The Government of Canada has expanded the sanctions list of Belarusian citizens who are subject to sanctions. This was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Canadian Foreign Ministry.
“Following the adoption of the first package of targeted sanctions in coordination with the United Kingdom on 29 September, the Canadian government today added 31 more Belarusian officials to the list of those subject to the [Canadian] Regulation on Special Economic Measures (Belarus)”, – the statement said. – “This second package of sanctions is being adopted in coordination with the recent actions taken by the European Union and the United States”, – the statement said.
The document notes that the additional restrictions also relate to the systematic violation of human rights, which, according to Ottawa, are taking place in Belarus, and their purpose is to pressure the Belarusian authorities to find a peaceful solution to the crisis through negotiations. The assets of those on the Canadian list will be frozen and their entry into the country banned.
“Today’s actions [of Canada] support broad international efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Belarus,” said Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. – Canada remains in solidarity with the Belarusian people who are fighting for the restoration of human rights and democracy in their country”, – he said.
On September 29th the governments of Canada and Great Britain announced the imposition of sanctions against the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, his eldest son Victor, and other high-ranking representatives of the Belarusian authorities. The Canadian list includes 11 names and the British list includes eight names. The US has expanded its sanctions list against Belarus, which now includes 25 surnames, including those of Lukashenko. On 12 October, the foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states decided to develop a new package of sanctions against the Belarusian authorities, including President Alexander Lukashenko.