Marco Levytsky, National Affairs Editor.
In coordination with the United Kingdom, Canada on September 29 imposed sanctions against 11 Government of Belarus officials, including President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
“Canada will not stand by silently as the Government of Belarus continues to commit systematic human rights violations and shows no indication of being genuinely committed to finding a negotiated solution with opposition groups,” stated François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“Canada and the United Kingdom are acting together to ensure these sanctions have a greater impact and to demonstrate unity in our condemnation of the situation. Canada stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus as they struggle to restore human rights and achieve democracy in their country,” he added.
These actions are being taken under the Special Economic Measures Act which imposes a prohibition on dealings (effectively an asset freeze) on listed individuals, by prohibiting persons in Canada and Canadians outside Canada from dealing in any property of these individuals or providing financial or related services to them. The individuals listed in the Schedule to the Regulations are also rendered inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Since the fraudulent presidential elections in August 2020, the Government of Belarus has conducted a systematic campaign of repression and state-sponsored violence against public protests and the activities of opposition groups. Canada remains deeply concerned by ongoing, well-documented reports of human rights violations, including against freedom of the press, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as against free and fair democratic elections, said Global Affairs in a press release.
“The sanctions announced today are part of a broader diplomatic effort by Canada to find a way towards a positive change in the current situation in Belarus. These include efforts at supporting the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, advocating for media freedom and support to civil society,” it added.
Reacting to this announcement the Belarusian Canadian Alliance (BCA), founded in 1948 to represent the Belarusian diaspora in Canada, issued a statement it said that “while the Belarusian Canadian Alliance welcomes this decision, we also recognize that the list falls regretfully short, as it only includes 11 names and leaves out the vast portion of the state apparatus – spanning political, electoral, security, military, judiciary branches, as well as the state media – that continue to enable the regime and propagate the violet repression of fundamental human rights and freedoms in Belarus.” “Estonia is currently the country that leads the way in sanctioning Belarusian officials with the list of 128 individuals. To further support the Belarusian people, Canada should expand the list of sanctioned individuals and provide financial aid to humanitarian programs.”
They outlined several measures they would like to of Canada to take. These include:
- Establishing de facto relations with the Coordination Council as the interim government;
- Imposing greater sanctions on the Belarusian regime;
- Demanding the release of all political prisoners;
- Opening and funding new Social Assistance Programs;
- Providing humanitarian assistance;
- Calling on the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to withdraw its decision to hold the 2021.
The BCA also quoted Belarusian political scientist Dmitry Bolkunez as saying “the sanctions imposed by the UK and Canada against Lukashenka’s regime bear more of an informational and psychological effect.”
“In the past 26 years, the Belarusian president has never visited the two countries and hasn’t made any attempts at developing a relationship with them. Lukashenka is not intimidated by being added to the list of sanctioned officials. A much greater threat would be an embargo on the purchase of Belarusian petroleum products and potassium fertilizers. If such harsh measures are undertaken, Lukashenka’s regime will fall within a few weeks under the pressure from factories. In any case, the sanctions are a bad omen for potential investors and trade partners, who will think twice before cooperating with the Belarusian government. Lukashenka has reinforced his reputation of a ‘castaway’ in the eyes of the Western world and his time has long since passed. He will not be able to cling on to power much longer.
The BCA also asked the UK and Canada should consider easing visa restrictions for Belarusian citizens.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Conservative Foreign Affairs Critic Michael Chong commended the Liberal government for re-imposing sanctions on Belarus amid ongoing anti-government protests which are faced with violence and arrests by police. He also called for the Liberals to take action against China’s human rights violations for which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by saying his government will continue voicing concerns over Hong Kong’s status and China’s human rights violations.
In a press release, New Democrat Deputy Critic for Foreign Affairs, Heather McPherson stated that while her party “was pleased to see the Liberal government impose sanctions on a small number of Belarus individuals responsible for the human rights abuses in Belarus, Canada must do more to protect the people of Belarus and ensure a swift return to democracy for all Belarusians.”
“Local and international human rights groups and journalists are documenting horrific acts of violence committed by the Belarusian government, military, and police against their own citizens. Peaceful demonstrators and those leading the dissent are being abducted, tortured, raped, threatened with the seizure of their children, and, in some cases, murdered.
“Yet, the Liberals have only imposed sanctions on a small number of individuals, missing the opportunity to hold the majority of those perpetrating violence upon the Belarus people to account. The NDP call upon the Government of Canada to expand the list of individuals to include those involved in the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters and those responsible for the fraudulent electoral process.
“In addition, the NDP calls upon the Government of Canada to immediate agree to undertake the following actions:
- Work with the United Nations to provide monitoring of the human rights situation;
- Support an independent third-party investigation into the atrocities committed in the streets, homes, detention centres, and jails of Belarus;
- Impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations;
- Recommit to supporting fragile and developing democracies by investing in election observation and democratic reform capacity building initiatives;
- Provide support to Belarusian civil society and Belarusian groups seeking freedom and democracy through humanitarian and long-term development aid.”
Originally the United States was to coordinate their sanctions with both Canada and the UK, but opted instead to wait for the European Union to make its decision. That was quite problematic since any one member of the EU can veto a decision and, in this case, it was Cyprus, which wanted sanctions applied against Turkey for its energy exploration work in disputed waters off the Mediterranean island nation’s coast before it would agree to the Belarus sanctions.
Finally, a compromise was reached whereby the leaders agreed on a strong statement of support for Cyprus, as well as for Greece, and a stern warning to Turkey that it could face punitive measures if it continues the undersea drilling work. In all, the EU sanctioned 40 individuals, while the US sanctioned eight, not including Lukashenka.
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