Norway aligns itself with EU decision to extend restrictive measures against Belarus

“Norway aligns itself with the EU’s decision to extend the restrictive measures against Belarusian officials who have been involved in electoral fraud or in the brutal repression of demonstrations after the presidential election. The situation in Belarus continues to give cause for grave concern,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. 

“The sentences against leading opposition politicians and others who took part in the demonstrations after the presidential election are a step in the wrong direction,” said Mr Støre.  

After the Belarusian authorities used force to quell demonstrations after the presidential election in December 2010, followed by reprisals against opposition leaders, the media and civil society actors, the EU and Norway reintroduced measures targeted at the Belarusian officials responsible for this. 

In the wake of the court proceedings and sentences in recent weeks against opposition politicians and others who took part in the protests after the presidential election, the EU has decided to extend the measures to include an additional 13 officials. Norway will extend its measures correspondingly. The measures involve a ban on their entering the EU and Norway and a freeze on their financial assets.  

“I am very concerned about the recent charges and verdicts against Andrey Sannikaw and other representatives of the opposition, activists and civil society actors. I call on the Belarusian authorities once more to release all political prisoners,” said Mr Støre. 

“I hope that the sanctions against the Belarusian authorities can as soon as possible be lifted rather than further extended, but this depends on the course of action taken by the authorities,” said Foreign Minister Støre.