The EU announced today the freezing of assets of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and 35 officials for their role in the March 19 presidential poll.

 

The measures were taken by the decision-making EU Council in addition to a travel ban against Lukashenko and 30 officials adopted on April 10.

 

The EU accused these officials of violating international electoral standards and of cracking down on civil society and the opposition in the context of the presidential elections.

 

Lukashenko won a landslide victory in the elections and began his third term in April.

 

The new measures also specify that "no funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of the persons concerned."

 

The EU Council also adopted a regulation, making the new measures compulsory for all member states.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2006)