Political tensions between Belarus and the European Union

The EU and Belarus have had a complicated relationship for many years, with the EU imposing sanctions on Belarus in response to human rights violations and restrictions on political freedoms.

The tensions between Belarus and the EU have been further exacerbated in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, which many EU leaders and human rights organizations have condemned as rigged. Following the election, the EU did not recognize the results and imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and other high-ranking officials in his government.

In response, Belarus has cut off diplomatic ties with the EU, closed its borders, and expelled ambassadors from several EU countries. This has led to a diplomatic crisis between Belarus and the EU, with the EU imposing further sanctions and Lukashenko accusing the EU of interfering in Belarusian affairs.

The EU has also provided support for the Belarusian opposition and civil society groups, providing funding and other resources to help promote democracy and human rights in Belarus. This has further strained the relationship between Belarus and the EU.