West piles sanctions on Belarus after plane diversion

— The EU, U.S., Britain and Canada ratcheted up pressure on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko Monday by imposing coordinated sanctions after the forced landing of a Ryanair airliner to arrest a regime critic.

“We are united in our deep concern regarding the Lukashenko regime’s continuing attacks on human rights, fundamental freedoms, and international law,” they said in a joint statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the measures “demonstrated the steadfast transatlantic commitment to supporting the Belarusian people’s democratic aspirations.”

The EU and the U.S. both targeted dozens of individuals and entities over a brutal crackdown on opposition since Lukashenko claimed victory in elections last August deemed fraudulent by the West. The 27-nation bloc and London added seven officials — including the defense and transport ministers of Belarus — to their sanctions blacklists for the grounding of the Ryanair jet last month.

EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg also backed broad-ranging sanctions targeting major revenue sources for the Belarusian regime: potash fertilizer exports, the tobacco industry, petroleum and petrochemical products.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the wider economic sanctions should be formally adopted in the coming days.

“Today we have confirmed and decided that sectoral sanctions will be taken against Belarus, which will have a severe impact on the Belarusian economy,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. “We want the release of the political prisoners, an end to the violence against protesters and the opposition, and an inclusive dialogue that will lead to free and fair elections.”

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who insists she won last year’s poll, welcomed the joint moves from the “democratic community” to strike Belarus.