Dominic Raab prepares sanctions against those responsible for 'serious human rights violations' in Belarus

“We’ve seen horrific scenes of militia attacking demonstrators and then dragging them away"
April Roach @aprilroach2824 September 2020

Dominic Raab has ordered the preparation of sanctions against those responsible for “serious human rights violations” in Belarus amid concerns of violence and repression.

The Foreign Secretary told MPs the Government does not accept the result of August’s “rigged” election and said action would be taken following the “fraudulent” inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko as president.

Thousands of people in Belarus have taken part in more than six weeks of rallies against the authoritarian leader’s re-election.

Making a statement to the Commons, Mr Raab said: “The world has watched in horror at the response of the Belarussian authorities.

“They launched a campaign of violence, intimidation and harassment against peaceful protesters.

Belarus Protests - In pictures

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“We’ve seen horrific scenes of militia attacking demonstrators and then dragging them away.

“UN human rights experts report the authorities have beaten those they held in detention and threatened female protesters with violence, including rape.”

Mr Lukashenko has run Belarus, a former Soviet nation of 9.5 million, with an iron fist for 26 years and official results of the presidential election had him winning 80 per cent of the vote.

His strongest opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got 10 per cent, and is now in exile in neighbouring Lithuania.

The Foreign Secretary said the violence seen in Belarus was shocking.

DUP MP Jim Shannon (Strangford) said: “Will (Mr Raab) further outline whether the reports of women and children being beaten by official police and having their passports removed have been verified?”

Mr Raab responded: “We are, as he is, shocked by what we’ve seen. The violence, the severity of it, and frankly the brazenness of it in front of the media, the reports that we’ve seen seem as bad as the ones that he’s suggested.

“I think what we do right now is the dual effort of trying to reach out and support those who find themselves under attack, in particular the journalists and the media who are trying to shine a light on this horrific abuse.

“But ultimately what we can do with our partners, our European partners, our American and Canadian partners, and indeed others, is hold those to account who commit these appalling abuses of human rights.”

An aerial view of protesters during a demonstration on August 16,in Minsk, Belarus
Getty Images

Mr Raab said journalists have been targeted to enable the authorities to “hide their actions”, while opposition officials co-ordinating peaceful protests have been “abducted, imprisoned and expelled”.

He added the unannounced ceremony for Mr Lukashenko’s inauguration “only serves to reinforce his wholesale lack of legitimacy”, noting the UK, the West and the world “cannot sit idly by”.

Outlining the next steps, Mr Raab said: “We do not accept the results of this rigged election. Second, we condemn the thuggery deployed against the Belarussian people.”

He added it is “absolutely critical” that those responsible are held to account, explaining: “We are willing to join the EU in adopting targeted sanctions against those responsible for the violence, the repression and the vote-rigging although the EU process has now been delayed in Brussels.

“Given that delay, given Lukashenko’s fraudulent inauguration, I have directed the FCDO sanction team to prepare Magnitsky sanctions for those responsible for the serious human rights violations and we’re coordinating with the United States and Canada to prepare appropriate listings as a matter of urgency.”

The UK introduced its own sanctions regime earlier this year and in July imposed restrictions on individuals linked to the killings of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, among others.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

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