EU Considers Imposing Sanctions Against Belarus

The foreign ministers of the European Union held discussions at an informal meeting in Berlin. The main agenda items were Belarus and the Mediterranean dispute between Turkey and Greece. This was reported by Voice of America.

The EU is seeking to impose sanctions against Belarus to pressure President Alexander Lukashenko and to facilitate new elections. In support of the participants of mass protests against Lukashenko's 26-year authoritarian regime, EU ministers are discussing the implementation of travel bans and asset freezes on up to 20 individuals responsible for violent actions against demonstrators.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, hosting the meeting, also called for a diplomatic solution to the dispute regarding control in the Mediterranean Sea between Greece and Turkey. The issue has escalated between the parties after Turkey sent a seismic survey ship to the disputed area this month, which Athens labeled illegal.

The foreign ministers will also discuss the dubious poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Maas warned that it would impact Russia-EU relations if Moscow did not assist in clarifying what happened. Navalny is currently in a hospital in Berlin.