Commentary of the Belarusian MFA in connection with the introduction of further anti-Belarusian sanctions by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the unilateral coercive measures against the Republic of Belarus adopted by the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Canada on August 9, 2021.

In doing so, the mentioned countries have once again demonstrated their complete disregard for international law and their own international and bilateral commitments and have revealed the true aims of their policy towards Belarus.

Hiding behind the hypocritical slogans of human rights protection and democracy, in fact, our Western opponents are guided by cold geopolitical calculations. Their actions are directly aimed at undermining the sovereignty and independence of Belarus, the well-being and prosperity of the Belarusian people.

The only thing the West is seeking, negligently ignoring the results of the will of the Belarusian people, is the change of power in Belarus. They deploy the entire arsenal of "cold war" methods, including building up external political and informational pressure, imposing an air embargo, using sports for political purposes, and ending with the financial and economic strangulation of the state.

The unilateral measures taken by the United States, Great Britain and Canada against our country are contrary to the UN Charter and the norms of international law, as well as their obligations within the OSCE.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds that it was the USA and the UK who signed the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, undertaking to refrain from economic coercion aimed at subordinating to their own interests the exercise by the Republic of Belarus of the rights inherent in its sovereignty.

The Belarusian side will carry out a thorough assessment of the restrictions adopted yesterday by the USA, Great Britain and Canada against our country and will take adequate measures in response.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that at all stages, the Belarusian side has consistently advocated an open and equal dialogue with the countries of the West, which should not be based on sanctions and pressure, but on the universally recognized principles and norms of international law and interstate communication.

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