The Epoch Times The authoritarian regime in Belarus retaliated against U.S. sanctions on Wednesday by withdrawing its approval for the appointment of the U.S. ambassador and telling Washington to reduce its embassy staff.
The administration of President Joe Biden imposed new sanctions on Belarus on Monday, the one-year anniversary of widespread protests in response to an election the opposition said was rigged. President Alexander Lukashenko ruthlessly squashed the protests with mass arrests and beatings by police.
The U.S. sanctions have targeted 44 people and entities, including the nationâs giant potash producer, the National Olympic committee and 15 private companies tied to top regime figures.
âThese steps are a further consequence to the Belarusian authoritiesâ continued flagrant disregard for human rights and Belarusâs failure to comply with its obligations under international human rights law,â Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Monday.
The spokesman for the Belarus Foreign Ministry called the U.S. sanctions âblatant and openly hostileâ and said that the appointment of Julie Fisher as the U.S. ambassador to Belarus was rescinded.
The spokesman, Analoty Glaz, said that the U.S. was to cut the staff at the embassy in Minsk to five diplomats by Sept. 1.
âIn view of Washingtonâs actions to halt cooperation in all spheres and strangle our country economically we see no reason in the presence of a significant number of diplomats at the U.S. diplomatic mission,â Glaz said in a statement.
While Belarus agreed to Fisherâs appointment in December as the first U.S. ambassador to Belarus since 2008, it never issued her an entry visa. Fisher has remained in neighboring Lithuania where she maintains contacts with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the main opposition challenger in the Aug. 9, 2020, election who was forced to leave Belarus under pressure from authorities.
Commenting on Belarusâ moves, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said that âBelarussian authorities are responsible for the deterioration in U.S.-Belarus relations through relentless repression against their citizens,â noting they have targeted civic groups, media, athletes, students, legal professions and others.
âThe United States government, Ambassador Fisher, personnel at our embassy in Minsk will continue to support the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus,â Price said.
âU.S. diplomats will continue to engage with Belarusians, including leaders of the pro-democracy movement, media professionals, students and other elements of civil society wherever they are.â
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
