Belarus threatens with "adequate measures" to fresh US sanctions

The Belarusian foreign ministry threatened on Tuesday to put adequate measures in place in respond to what was described as "unilateral unjustified actions by the United States", reports Belapan. The U.S. said today they were beefing up sanctions against the administration of Alexander Lukashenka. In a fresh move, the U.S. Department of State has restricted the issue of visas to new categories of Belarus officials and the members of their families.

The list now includes officers of Belarus security organizatins, ideology officials and the members of electoral commissions.

The U.S. Embassy in Minsk said the move was in respond to the further deterioration of the situation with democracy and human rights in Belarus over the past several weeks.

A Belarusian foreign ministry spokesman described the US measures as "prospectless and counter-productive". At the same time, the Belarusian foreign ministry stressed that Belarus remained open for a dialogue with the United States.

BelaPAN