The European Union slapped economic sanctions on Belarus on Thursday in response to what the bloc called the “escalation of serious human rights violations”, including the detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich.
The sanctions target the economy but are also aimed at hitting President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies.
Pratasevich, a dissident journalist, was arrested May 23 after Belarusian flight controllers ordered a Ryanair jet travelling from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk.
The sanctions agreed upon Thursday target industries including potash — a common fertiliser ingredient — tobacco industry exports and petroleum products. “Trade in petroleum products, potassium chloride (potash), and goods used for the production or manufacturing of tobacco products is restricted,” the EU said.