Lithuania urges to toughen new sanctions against Belarus

After the European Union approves new sanctions against Belarus, they should be tightened, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.

"After a year-long break, new sanctions against Belarus have been approved - something happened that should have happened long ago. Belarus supports Russian aggression in Ukraine, the human rights situation continues to deteriorate, while the territory of Belarus is used to circumvent sanctions against Russia," he said, LRT reports.

The minister added that the new package of European sanctions introduces new restrictions on dual-use goods. According to him, sanctions against aircraft parts will help prevent "the appearance of such goods on the battlefield," as well as fight the circumvention of sanctions against Russia through Belarus.

"However, we cannot sit idly by - the rest of the sanctions package must be adopted immediately. I hope we will not have to wait for it as long," Landsbergis emphasised.