Belarus opposition urges EU to move on sanctions

The main opposition leader of Belarus is urging the European Union to approve sanctions on officials accused of rigging her country's presidential election last month.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday (September 21).

"I think that (European) leaders have reasons not to push these sanctions, but at this meeting, I asked (them) just to be more brave in their decisions."

She fled to Lithuania after the election, while for a sixth straight weekend mass demonstrations took place against President Alexander Lukashenko in the capital of Minsk over the disputed August vote.

The EU has yet to follow through on a threat to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials, which it first threatened in late August.

"Of course sanctions are very important in our fight, because sanctions (are) part of pressure that will force the so-called authorities to start dialogue with us in the Coordination Council that I have created."

EU member states have yet to give approval to a final list of some 40 officials to be targeted. The issue has also become entangled in a separate debate about sanctions on Turkey over its energy dispute with Cyprus.

The EU, like the United States, wants new elections in Belarus and for Lukashenko to quit after 26 years in power.

Tsikhanouskaya, whose supporters say she won the election, has ruled herself out of running in a new vote.