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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is on the EU's sanctions list until at least February 2022
Photo: Pavel Orlovsky / dpa
The protests against the controversial presidential election in Belarus have now subsided - but the EU wants to keep the pressure on the ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
Now the member states have extended their sanctions against the country by one year.
The EU Council announced that the punitive measures against the head of state Alexander Lukashenko and those around him would continue until February 28, 2022.
In addition to Lukashenko, 87 people responsible for alleged electoral fraud and violence against demonstrators are currently affected.
Entry and property bans were imposed on them.
After the presidential election on August 9, there were mass protests against Lukashenko in Belarus for months.
The opposition accuses the head of state, who has been in power for 26 years, of electoral fraud.
The security forces regularly use violence against demonstrators.
Thousands of people were arrested and reportedly severely ill-treated.
The EU does not recognize Lukashenko's re-election.
The leading opposition activist Svetlana Tichanowskaja had recently declared the mass protests to have failed for the time being.
However, she is hoping for new demonstrations in the spring.
The EU had passed three sanction packages since the summer.
In November, direct punitive measures were taken against the ruler Alexander Lukashenko, later the EU also took action against entrepreneurs who are close to Lukashenko.
Seven companies were also subject to sanctions at the time.
Belarus responded to the sanctions shortly before Christmas - and announced entry bans for EU representatives.
Lukashenko's son is also affected
According to the AP news agency, the sanctions also hit Lukashenko's son Viktor.
He works as a national security advisor for his father.
The EU foreign ministers had threatened further sanctions at their meeting on Monday.
They referred to the disregard for fundamental freedoms and human rights as well as the oppression of the Belarusian population and civil society.
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fek / AFP / AP