EU plans to impose sanctions on Belarus after contested re-election of Alexander Lukashenko

AKIPRESS.COM - The European Union announced plans to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials on Wednesday, with leaders of the 27 heads of state in agreement a new vote would be required following the contested re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko, CNBC reported.
European Council President Charles Michel said in a video briefing that the bloc would soon impose sanctions on a "substantial number" of individuals responsible for violence, repression, and election fraud.
The bloc had previously described the vote as "neither free nor fair."
"We stand firmly behind the right of the Belarusian people to determine their own fate," Michel said, shortly after the conclusion of an emergency summit with EU leaders.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said EU leaders had also formed a consensus that new elections in Belarus would be needed, Reuters reported.
Ahead of the EU's emergency summit, Belarus' main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called on the bloc to recognize Lukashenko's election victory as "fraudulent."
After growing tensions and new demonstrations opposition set up Coordination council. The council announced that their aim is to organize new elections and peaceful transition of power.
Alexander Lukashenko accused the council of trying to seize power and threatened to undertake violent measures.