US targets Belarus with sanctions

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday announced punitive measures against Belarus targeting the regime of strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, who met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin amid a global outcry over the forced diversion of a European plane.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called for “a credible international investigation into the events of May 23”, which she called “a direct affront to international norms”.

Belarus scrambled a military jet to divert a Ryanair plane and arrested 26-year-old opposition journalist and activist Roman Protasevich who was onboard, triggering a global outcry.

The White House announced it was working with the European Union on a list of targeted sanctions against key members of Lukashenko’s regime.

Meanwhile, economic sanctions against nine Belarusian state-owned enterprises, reimposed by Washington in April following a crackdown on prodemocracy protests, will come into effect on June 3.

Further US moves on Belarus could target “those that support corruption, the abuse of human rights, and attacks on democracy”, Psaki said.

The White House also issued a “Do Not Travel” warning for Belarus to US citizens, and warned American passenger planes to “exercise extreme caution” if considering flying over Belarusian airspace.

The European Union has also urged EU-based carriers to avoid Belarusian airspace.

However, President Putin celebrated Russia’s close ties with Belarus on Friday as he hosted Lukashenko in Sochi. “An attempt is under way to rock the boat to reach the level of last August,” Lukashenko said, referring to anti-regime protests following a disputed election. “It’s clear what these Western friends want from us.”