US Sanctions Belarusian President and Officials

MAR 15 2022·Updated MAR 17 2022

Story

Image credit: Getty Images [via Axios]

The Facts

The latest round of US sanctions over Ukraine has included renewed sanctions against Putin supporter and president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. He has been accused of human rights violations and corruption.
Independent
Lukashenko's wife, Halina, and 11 Russian defense officials have also been sanctioned for alleged human rights violations.
Axios
Lukashenko--who has been sanctioned several times over his 30-yr reign--and his wife are barred from entering the US, and their property and interests in the country have been blocked. Americans are also banned from doing business with them.
Axios
Russia and Belarus have had strong relations over the past decade, with Russia using Belarus as a staging ground before its recent invasion.
New York Post

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Belarus' close ties to Russia make it complicit in the atrocities going on in Ukraine. Lukashenko has allowed his country to become an extension of Russia, and Belarusian armed forces might even be taking orders from the Russians.

The Guardian

Narrative C

Economic sanctions might make life difficult, but they'll never work to thwart the invasion. The only thing that will work is more military assistance to the Ukrainian army.

American Thinker

Establishment-critical narrative

It's hypocritical to impose sanctions on Russia and its allies for the invasion of Ukraine, but not on the US for invading Iraq for equally unjustified reasons, or on Israel for invading and annexing Arab lands.

Al Jazeera