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Poland considers it necessary to impose new sanctions against the Belarusian authorities due to the conviction in absentia of the former presidential candidate Svetlana Tsihanovska and other representatives of the opposition who are in exile abroad, TASS reported, citing Polish government spokesman Piotr Müller.

"These recent show trials and the sentencing of various people only show that long-term action needs to be taken against Belarus, unfortunately, when it comes to international sanctions," he said.

Tikhanovska was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison in Belarus

According to Mueller, Poland has asked the European Council to "expand the sanctions that are now in force against Russia" and include Belarus in their scope.

"This is about economic sanctions. We think that Belarus should be covered by such sanctions," he explained.

Mueller added that Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also used "European channels to call for all people involved in show trials in Belarus - prosecutors, judges and others - to be included in sanctions lists", BTA noted.

Poland

sentence

sanctions

Belarus

Svetlana Tikhanovska