The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, as well as on his son and six other senior government officials, The Guardian reports, noting that Canada has also taken a similar step. The sanctions include a freeze on assets and a travel ban imposed on the president himself.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab stated today that: "We will hold those responsible for the thuggery deployed against the Belarusian people to account and we will stand up for our values of democracy and human rights."
According to a statement from the British Foreign Office, "Alexander Lukashenko’s regime is responsible for a string of human rights violations against opposition figures, media and the people of Belarus in the wake of rigged elections. Despite numerous calls from the international community, he has refused to engage in dialogue with the opposition, choosing instead to double down on his violent repression [including] torture and mistreatment of hundreds of peaceful protesters ... in a clear show of Lukashenko’s disdain for dialogue with the opposition and for basic human rights."