Estonia permanently bans Lukashenko from entry

Estonia has imposed an indefinite entry ban on the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and 272 other Belarusians. This was reported by TASS.

The initiative was introduced by Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200), who emphasized that the human rights situation in Belarus remains unchanged, and Minsk's support for Russian aggression against Ukraine only strengthens the need for pressure.

"For almost five years since the introduction of sanctions, there have been no positive changes in Belarus. We cannot turn a blind eye to the ongoing repression, so sanctions must be maintained without time limits," said Tsahkna, whose words were conveyed by the press service of the Estonian Foreign Ministry.

By the minister's order, the list of persons subject to sanctions includes 273 people, including high-ranking officials, judges, security forces, propagandists, and those close to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. This includes Lukashenko himself, whom neither Estonia nor several other EU countries consider a legitimate head of state.

The sanctions were first imposed by Estonia in 2020 amid large-scale protests following the presidential elections in Belarus. Previously, they were extended several times and were time-limited.