EU hits Belarus with sanctions intended to hurt Lukashenko and his allies

The EU has placed sanctions on Belarus which is ruled by Alexander Lukashenko (Maxim Guchek/BelTA Pool Photo via AP)

The European Union has slapped economic sanctions on Belarus in response to what the bloc called the “escalation of serious human rights violations” including the detention of journalist Roman Protasevich.

The sanctions target the economy but are also aimed at hitting President Alexander Lukashenko and his allies.