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

The United States willonMonday impose freshsanctionsontheregimeof Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is accused of a brutal crackdownonopponents, aWhiteHouseofficialtold 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."

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In power since 1994, Lukashenko has been cracking downonopponents since unprecedented protests erupted after last year's elections, deemed unfair by many observers.

Thesanctionsto be imposed by the US TreasuryonMonday will mark the anniversary of the elections, which the USofficialdescribed 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 toBelarusafter 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.

In May, Lukashenko's government intercepted a Ryanair plane and arrested an opposition activist and his girlfriendonboard.

Olympic threats

"Since then, theregimehas only further expanded its repression, including by threatening the safety of an Olympic athlete outside its borders," the USofficialsaid.

"With today's actions, President Biden is abiding by his pledge to hold the Belarussianregimeaccountable for its abuses."

The latestsanctionstarget key institutions and supporters of Lukashenko including the Belarusian National Olympic Committee, business leaders and companies such a private Belarusian bank.

Alsoonthe list is Belaruskali OAO, one ofBelarus'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 theregime.

The US accused the National Olympic Committee of facilitating money laundering,sanctionsevasion and circumventing visa bans.

Western nations have already imposed a slew ofsanctionsonLukashenko and hisregime, but they appear to have had limited effect as he maintains backing from key ally and creditor Russia.

Tsimanouskaya, 24, arrived in PolandonWednesday 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 inBelarus.

The US will call for an international investigation into the Ryanair flight diversion, the release of all political prisoners, and free and fair elections.