the European Union urged not to forget about Belarusians being tortured, who may not live to see next year. This appeal was posted by the head of the Council of Europe Council of Europe Donald Tusk on his Twitter- account on Christmas Eve.
Tusk congratulated his readers on the coming Christmas, wishing them good health, strength and happiness. “I ask you not to forget about our imprisoned Belarusian friends who endure torture and beatings. They may not last long enough to see the new year,” he wrote in Belarusian and English.
December 17, the European Union approved the third package of sanctions against Belarus in connection with “ongoing repression against civil society.” 29 new names and 7 enterprises were added to the sanctions list. Great Britain joined the new sanctions on December 18.
In response to the new restrictions, Belarus expanded its own sanctions list by banning entry a number of people from the EU countries. In addition to personal sanctions, the Belarusian leadership will limit the activities of a number of political foundations, various humanitarian and educational programs, including those under the patronage of foreign embassies.