US Ambassador to Belarus Julie Fisher stated in an interview with BelSAT TV channel that Washington will not reduce sanitation pressure on Minsk even in case of liberation of part of political prisoners.
According to the diplomat, the American authorities are concerned about the threats and actions of the President of Alexander Lukashenko, “which he tries to spoil the life of neighbors.” She also found them meaningless and explained that the head of state “worth seeing in the mirror” for searches to blame for the worsening economic situation in the country. “This is his actions and its regime fundamentally changed the future of the economy of Belarus,” Fisher emphasized.
She noted that the United States will continue to insist on the liberation of all repressed citizens and promised to support contacts with the Belarusian opposition, in particular, by its leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. “West must talk to Lukashenko in the language that he understands,” the ambassador noted.
On June 24, the European Union introduced the fourth package of economic sanctions against Belarus. Under them were 166 physical and 15 legal entities. According to the measures taken, the EU limits the access of Belarus to its financial markets, introduces restrictions on the trade in petroleum products and potash fertilizers, as well as tobacco products. Brussels also forbade the transfer of military and dual-use goods and technologies and insurance services for the authorities of the Republic.
To these restrictions also connected the United Kingdom, USA and Canada. Washington also promised to explore the issue of introducing additional restrictions. Later it became known that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus could contact with European ambassadors on the release of political prisoners to mitigate sanctions.