A Senator has called for Belarus to face more sanctions for “collaborating with Vladimir Putin” and allowing Russian troops and planes to pass through the country.
Fine Gael’s Barry Ward, of Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, said leader Alexander Lukashenko’s regime must face punishment that matches that which was imposed on Russia.
Mr Ward, right, added: “Belarus is complicit in Putin’s aggression against Ukraine, and Ireland and the EU must take every action possible to send a strong message of condemnation to the Lukashenko regime. While there are sanctions on Belarus already in place at an EU level, these must be extended to match those imposed on Russia given the severity of the situation.
“Last year, the Seanad passed a motion that I proposed which unanimously acknowledged the lack of fairness and transparency in the 2020 Belarusian Presidential election and rejected the democratic legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko. The motion received unanimous support from all parties at the time.
“As I said then, it is important that the Oireachtas speak with one voice in condemning the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, the lack of democratic legitimacy of that regime and the need for change in that jurisdiction.
“Never has it been more important to be unequivocal in our opposition to the Lukashenko regime.”
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