LUXEMBOURG (AP) — The European Union has expanded sanctions against the regime of authoritarian Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko because of its continued repression of the opposition.
A meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday extended a visa ban and asset freeze against 192 individuals linked to the regime and added 16 more.
The EU has also banned its members from sending arms or riot gear to the eastern European nation.
Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal said that "Lukashenko should understand that he has to free all political prisoners."
Beyond confirming the current sanctions, Rosenthal called for added action.
"When it is not learned the soft way, it should be learned the hard way. And that is on the basis also of increasing and intensifying the sanctions," Rosenthal said.
