On Monday, the EU announced a one-year extension of sanctions against Belarus for continuing repression by the regime of Alexander Lukashenko and its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, AFP reports.

The sanctions have been extended until February 28, 2024, the European Council, which represents 27 EU member states, announced on Monday.

On Monday, they demanded that the Belarusian dissident in exile, Svitlana Tikhanovskaya, who was tried in absentia since January in the former Soviet republic, be sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Since August 2020, the EU has introduced several rounds of sanctions against individuals responsible for political repression and human rights violations in Belarus.

President Oleksandr Lukashenka and 194 other figures close to the regime were banned from entering the EU and their assets were frozen.

In addition, 34 organizations were sanctioned and banned from receiving EU funding.

Belarus is also subject to specific economic sanctions, including restrictions on the financial sector, trade, dual-use goods, telecommunications, energy and transport.

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