The United States will&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday impose fresh&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;regime&nbsp;of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is accused of a brutal crackdown&nbsp;on&nbsp;opponents, a&nbsp;White&nbsp;House&nbsp;official&nbsp;told AFP.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a> will sign an executive order targeting Lukashenko over an ongoing "assault against the democratic aspirations and human rights of the Belarusian people, transnational repression... and corruption."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/biles-belarus-and-sports-drama-here-are-some-key-moments-of-tokyo-olympics-2020-404131">Biles, Belarus and sports drama: Here are some key moments of Tokyo Olympics 2020</a>

In power since 1994, Lukashenko has been cracking down&nbsp;on&nbsp;opponents since unprecedented protests erupted after last year's elections, deemed unfair by many observers.

The&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;to be imposed by the US Treasury&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday will mark the anniversary of the elections, which the US&nbsp;official&nbsp;described as "fraudulent."

At the now-completed Tokyo Olympics, Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya sought protection to avoid being forced onto a plane home, saying she feared for her life if she returned to&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;after she criticized her coaches.

Tsimanouskaya was among the many Belarusian sports figures who in August 2020 publicly criticized violence against protesters at demonstrations that gripped the ex-Soviet country after the presidential vote.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/happy-to-be-in-safety-says-belarus-olympic-athlete-krystsina-tsimanouskaya-403194">'Happy to be in safety,' says Belarus Olympic athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya</a>

In May, Lukashenko's government intercepted a Ryanair plane and arrested an opposition activist and his girlfriend&nbsp;on&nbsp;board.

Olympic threats&nbsp;

"Since then, the&nbsp;regime&nbsp;has only further expanded its repression, including by threatening the safety of an Olympic athlete outside its borders," the US&nbsp;official&nbsp;said.

"With today's actions, President Biden is abiding by his pledge to hold the Belarussian&nbsp;regime&nbsp;accountable for its abuses."

The latest&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;target key institutions and supporters of Lukashenko including the Belarusian National Olympic Committee, business leaders and companies such a private Belarusian bank.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-2020-two-belarus-coaches-kicked-out-of-olympics-over-krystsina-tsimanouskaya-removal-403305">Tokyo 2020: Two Belarus coaches kicked out of Olympics over Krystsina Tsimanouskaya removal</a>

Also&nbsp;on&nbsp;the list is Belaruskali OAO, one of&nbsp;Belarus's largest state-owned enterprises and one of the world's largest producers of potash. It is alleged to be a source of illegal wealth for the&nbsp;regime.

The US accused the National Olympic Committee of facilitating money laundering,&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;evasion and circumventing visa bans.

Western nations have already imposed a slew of&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;on&nbsp;Lukashenko and his&nbsp;regime, but they appear to have had limited effect as he maintains backing from key ally and creditor Russia.

Tsimanouskaya, 24, arrived in Poland&nbsp;on&nbsp;Wednesday after being granted a humanitarian visa, saying she was "happy to be in safety."

According to local rights group Viasna, there are currently 603 political prisoners in&nbsp;Belarus.

The US will call for an international investigation into the Ryanair flight diversion, the release of all political prisoners, and free and fair elections.

The United States will on Monday impose fresh sanctions on the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is accused of a brutal crackdown on opponents, a White House official told AFP.

The United States will on Monday impose fresh sanctions on the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is accused of a brutal crackdown on opponents, a White House official told AFP. President Joe Biden will sign an executive order targeting Lukashenko over an ongoing "assault against the democratic aspirations and human rights of the Belarusian people, transnational repression... and corruption." Also read | Biles, Belarus and sports drama: Here are some key moments of Tokyo Olympics 2020 In power since 1994, Lukashenko has been cracking down on opponents since unprecedented protests erupted after last year's elections, deemed unfair by many observers. The sanctions to be imposed by the US Treasury on Monday will mark the anniversary of the elections, which the US official described as "fraudulent." At the now-completed Tokyo Olympics, Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya sought protection to avoid being forced onto a plane home, saying she feared for her life if she returned to Belarus after she criticized her coaches. Tsimanouskaya was among the many Belarusian sports figures who in August 2020 publicly criticized violence against protesters at demonstrations that gripped the ex-Soviet country after the presidential vote. Also read | 'Happy to be in safety,' says Belarus Olympic athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya In May, Lukashenko's government intercepted a Ryanair plane and arrested an opposition activist and his girlfriend on board. Olympic threats "Since then, the regime has only further expanded its repression, including by threatening the safety of an Olympic athlete outside its borders," the US official said. "With today's actions, President Biden is abiding by his pledge to hold the Belarussian regime accountable for its abuses." The latest sanctions target key institutions and supporters of Lukashenko including the Belarusian National Olympic Committee, business leaders and companies such a private Belarusian bank. Also read | Tokyo 2020: Two Belarus coaches kicked out of Olympics over Krystsina Tsimanouskaya removal Also on the list is Belaruskali OAO, one of Belarus's largest state-owned enterprises and one of the world's largest producers of potash. It is alleged to be a source of illegal wealth for the regime. The US accused the National Olympic Committee of facilitating money laundering, sanctions evasion and circumventing visa bans. Western nations have already imposed a slew of sanctions on Lukashenko and his regime, but they appear to have had limited effect as he maintains backing from key ally and creditor Russia. Tsimanouskaya, 24, arrived in Poland on Wednesday after being granted a humanitarian visa, saying she was "happy to be in safety." According to local rights group Viasna, there are currently 603 political prisoners in Belarus. The US will call for an international investigation into the Ryanair flight diversion, the release of all political prisoners, and free and fair elections.

US to slap new sanctions on Belarus regime: White House official

After the US imposed sanctions on several top Belarus officials, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-imposes-new-sanctions-on-belarus-after-plane-re-routing-391990">European Union</a> blacklisted the country's defence minister&nbsp;Viktor Khrenin and transport minister&nbsp;Alexei Avramenko&nbsp;over the plane diversion row.

The EU added 71 individuals including Russian tycoon Mikhail Gutseriyev, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-removes-belarusian-opposition-leader-sviatlana-tsikhanouskaya-from-wanted-list-391626">Lukashenko's</a> son Dmitry and daughter-in-law Liliya to the sanctions list.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jailed-belarus-journalist-makes-another-public-appearance-391518/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had earlier said that new sanctions would be imposed against "86 people and entities".

EU states are set to impose fresh sanctions on Belarus' financial, oil, tobacco and potash sectors, reports said as Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg stated that Europe is set to "tighten the thumbscrews" over the country's "air piracy".

President Lukashenko's government had earlier forced a Ryanair flight to land and forcibly arrested dissident blogger Roman Protasevich who was onboard leading EU nations to come down heavily against the regime.

The EU had earlier slapped sanctions against 88 individuals last year&nbsp;over crackdown on protests as&nbsp;President Lukashenko claimed victory in polls which was deemed fraudulent by European officials.

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claimed victory in the polls but was forced to leave&nbsp;the country.

Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet said that the situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate.

Bachelet hit out against restrictions on freedom of expression including raids against civil society. The rights chief said there were numerous reports of "arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture and ill-treatment."

(With inputs from Agencies)

After the US imposed sanctions on several top Belarus officials, the European Union blacklisted the country's defence minister Viktor Khrenin and transport minister Alexei Avramenko over the plane diversion row.

After the US imposed sanctions on several top Belarus officials, the European Union blacklisted the country's defence minister Viktor Khrenin and transport minister Alexei Avramenko over the plane diversion row. The EU added 71 individuals including Russian tycoon Mikhail Gutseriyev, Lukashenko's son Dmitry and daughter-in-law Liliya to the sanctions list. Watch: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had earlier said that new sanctions would be imposed against "86 people and entities". EU states are set to impose fresh sanctions on Belarus' financial, oil, tobacco and potash sectors, reports said as Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg stated that Europe is set to "tighten the thumbscrews" over the country's "air piracy". President Lukashenko's government had earlier forced a Ryanair flight to land and forcibly arrested dissident blogger Roman Protasevich who was onboard leading EU nations to come down heavily against the regime. The EU had earlier slapped sanctions against 88 individuals last year over crackdown on protests as President Lukashenko claimed victory in polls which was deemed fraudulent by European officials. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claimed victory in the polls but was forced to leave the country. Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet said that the situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate. Bachelet hit out against restrictions on freedom of expression including raids against civil society. The rights chief said there were numerous reports of "arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture and ill-treatment." (With inputs from Agencies)

EU blacklists Belarus ministers as US slaps sanctions on officials

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US to slap new sanctions on Belarus regime: White House official

EU blacklists Belarus ministers as US slaps sanctions on officials