"We are trying to ensure that all the sanctions applied against Russia are extended to Belarus, which cooperates with it," Deputy Head of the Polish Foreign Ministry Władysław Bartashewski said at the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 6

According to his words, transmitted by the PAP agency, "more than 1.5 thousand people are now political prisoners" in Belarus and, "despite the efforts of the Polish side, the number of political prisoners is increasing, repression is intensifying."

Bartaszewski drew attention to the fact that the Belarusian authorities can repress citizens for having a "Pole Card".

The diplomat also emphasized that the elections to the parliament and local councils, which took place in Belarus on February 25, "have nothing to do with real democracy" and are a "farce."

Alexander Lukashenko's statement about his intention to participate in the presidential elections in 2025, according to a representative of Polish diplomacy, shows that "the political crisis in Belarus will continue and there is no end in sight."

"Belarus is now closely connected by its activities, including anti-Ukrainian activities, with Putin's Russia, and we are trying to ensure that all sanctions applied against the Russian Federation are extended by other countries to Belarus as well," Bartashevsky added.

According to his statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal is "resisting" the expansion of sanctions against Minsk, however, "strong attempts are being made to convince him to include Belarus in the 14th sanctions package."

Sanctions are one of the most effective methods of pressure, but Russia "bypasses" part of the restrictions through the territory of Belarus, said a representative of the Polish Foreign Ministry.

"One of the main tasks of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to keep the Belarusian issue on the EU's agenda," Bartashevsky noted.

According to him, Poland "raises the Belarusian issue at all international forums", especially noting the need to release all political prisoners, while Warsaw's "absolute priority" is the release of journalist Andrzej Pachobut.