Britain imposes further sanctions on Belarus.

Britain announced a new package of sanctions targeting Belarus, including an import ban, accusing it of supporting Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.

"This new package of sanctions will increase pressure on the Belarusian economy and the government of President Alexander Lukashenko. Belarus has actively facilitated and supported Russia's campaign and disregarded Ukraine's territorial integrity," British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on June 8.

The sanctions package includes a ban on the import of gold, cement, timber, and rubber from Belarus, as well as a ban on the transfer of banknotes, the export of machinery, and goods, technology, and materials that could be used to produce chemical and biological weapons from the UK to Belarus.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Downing Street, London, in October 2022. Photo: Reuters

London added that it could also block Belarusian state-owned media companies from "propagating" in the UK. Social media companies and internet service providers in the UK would restrict access to the websites of sanctioned Belarusian media organizations.

Britain had previously increased tariffs on a range of imported products from Russia and Belarus, including precious metals such as platinum and palladium.

President Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Putin, and the two countries have close military ties. Minsk allowed Moscow to use its territory to send troops into Ukraine when fighting broke out in February 2022.

Moscow and Minsk signed an agreement on May 25th regarding the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. President Lukashenko also announced that countries joining the Russia-Belarus Union State would be allowed to use nuclear weapons on their territory.

Location of Belarus. Graphic: DW

Ngoc Anh (According to Reuters )

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