Key Russian allies hit with Aussie sanctions

AUSTRALIA has slapped sanctions on the Belarusian President and his family over their continued support of Russia as the invasion of Ukraine enters its second month.

President Alexander Lukashenko (pictured), alongside his son and wife, join the 13 Belarusian individuals and entities already sanctioned by Australia due to their “significant strategic” role in the war, including allowing Russia to launch military attacks from Belarus.

A further 22 Russian “propagandists and disinformation operatives” have also been included in the latest round of sanctions, announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne on Friday.

Senator Payne said the latest round of sanctions reiterated Australia’s “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the people of Ukraine”.

“These latest steps, one month into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, continue our focused efforts to ensure that Russia and those who support its illegal, unprovoked invasion of its democratic neighbour pay a high cost,” Senator Payne said.

“Australia has now sanctioned a total of 32 pro-Kremlin propagandists, reflecting the strategic importance of disinformation in Russia’s attempts to legitimise Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

Senator Payne said the government of Belarus, under Mr Lukashenko, continued to provide strategic support to Russia and its military forces in their assault on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“We are also placing sanctions on his son Viktor Lukashenko, who previously held senior national security roles in the Belarusian government, and his wife Galina Lukashenko, the First Lady of Belarus,” Senator Payne said.

“The Belarusian government allowed Russian military forces to train in their country for weeks ahead of the invasion.

“Since then, it has allowed Russia to fire ballistic missiles from Belarus into Ukraine, enabled the transport of Russian military personnel, heavy weapons and tanks into Ukraine, provided refuelling points in Belarus for Russian military aircraft and stored Russian weapons and military equipment.”

Senator Payne said Australia would continue to impose further sanctions to inflict “significant costs” on those in Russia and Belarus who bear responsibility for the attacks on Ukraine or hold levers of power.