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Crisis in Belarus

EU blacklists Belarusian president, 14 other officials

The foreign ministers of EU member states earlier agreed that sanctions would be imposed on Lukashenko unless the situation in the country improved

© Maxim Guchek/BelTA/TASS

BRUSSELS, November 6. /TASS/. The European Union has blacklisted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and 14 senior officials, including State Security Committee (KGB) Chairman Ivan Tertel and Head of the Constitutional Court Petr Miklashevich, according to the Official Journal of the European Union.

"In view of the gravity of the situation in Belarus, due to the ongoing repression of civil society and opposition activists, Alexander Lukashenko and 14 other persons should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures," the document reads.

The EU’s restrictions will also apply to Presidential Spokespersoin Natalya Eismont, Presidential National Security Advisor Viktor Lukashenko, Presidential Office Chief Igor Sergeyenko, Investigative Committee Chairman Ivan Noskevich and some other high-ranking officials. The sanctions "include a travel ban and an asset freeze." "In addition, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to those listed."

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Lukashenko says Belarusian doctors who leave for Poland won’t be allowed back

The foreign ministers of EU member states earlier agreed that sanctions would be imposed on Lukashenko unless the situation in the country improved. The top diplomats called on Minsk to stop "repression and abuses, promoting a serious, credible and inclusive political process resulting in free and fair elections," release "all arbitrarily detained persons" and "engage in an inclusive national dialogue."

On October 2, European Union leaders agreed a package of sanctions against some 40 Belarusian officials but refrained from blacklisting President Lukashenko. According to the EU, sanctions against Lukashenko would have undermined the EU’s demand for him to launch dialogue with the opposition.

Belarus held its presidential election on August 9. According to the Central Election Commission’s data, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko received 80.1% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who garnered 10.12%, refused to recognize the election’s results and left Belarus. Protests erupted in the country's capital of Minsk and several other cities following the presidential vote. The opposition keeps encouraging the Belarusian people to continue protests until a new election is called.

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US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

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Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

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Humanitarian situation in Gorlovka harsh as Ukraine targets key infrastructure — DPR head

More than 80,000 users were left without power in Gorlovka on Tuesday morning due to the Ukrainian armed forces' shelling

Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

Russian army units have advanced much farther into the city’s northern part, in particular, along the southern bank of the Kurakhovo reservoir, Vladimir Rogov specified

Ex-UK Labor party leader wants PM to clarify situation with Storm Shadow missiles

Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

According to Igor Kimakovsky, the only road the Ukrainian armed forces could use to leave the city is under Russia’s control

Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

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Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

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NATO deployment to Ukraine would mark its entry into the war, Russian diplomat warns

According to Maria Zakharova, the Estonian minister is inciting other NATO members to engage in a venture that is "bound to fail"

Putin sends message to those seeking to 'add fuel to fire' before Trump’s return — expert

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Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

Rubicon center drones hit Ukrainian equipment in Russia's Kursk Region

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage showing the destruction of the enemy equipment

US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

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Kremlin condemns report on Storm Shadow missile use against Russian targets as escalation

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Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

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Trump may soon start talks with Russia following Biden’s decision on ATACMS — news agency

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Defeating Ukrainian forces near Olgovskaya wood, enemy losses: situation in Kursk Region

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