Canada announces sanctions on Belarus as exiled opposition leader to meet with Trudeau

Belarus's exiled opposition leaderin her first official visit to Ottawa got what she asked for even before walking through the door on Tuesday. Canada increased sanctions against the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko, targeting the military and security services thathave aided Russia in its war with Ukraine.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's visit, however, has shed light on how closely her opposition movement has been co-operating with Ukraine and how a victory by Kyiv could be the inspiration for change in Belarus.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mlanie Jolysaid, in a statementthat theBelarusianregimeis supporting human-rights violations byallowing the country to serve as a launching pad for Russia's attacks on Ukraine. Another 22 officials in Belarus are being added to the sanctions list,including people who are involved in the stationing and transport of Russian military personnel and equipment.

An additional 16 Belarusian companies across the military, manufacturing, tech, engineering, banking and rail sectors were also hit with penalties.

CBC News has reached out to Joly's office, buthas not received aresponse.

WATCH | Exiled Belarusian opposition leader meets with Trudeau

Canada announces more sanctions on Belarus as exiled opposition leader meets with Trudeau

2 years ago

Duration 6:47

Exiled Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya says she welcomes sanctions imposed by Canada, but that mechanisms are necessary to stop the regime in Belarus from circumventing them.

Met with defence minister last weekend

Tsikhanouskaya who was widely considered to have won the 2020 presidential election in Belarus said Monday those sanctions were among a number of items she planned to ask for in meetings over the next two days with Joly and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

She said she's alsoseeking non-lethal military aid for up to 500 Belarusians who are fighting as volunteers for Ukraine.

Tsikhanouskaya has met already with Defence Minister Anita Anand. The two had a discussion during the Halifax International Security Forum last weekend.

"We don't want the world to overlook the participation of Lukashenko in this war," Tsikhanouskaya toldCBC News, referring toLukashenko.

Lukashenko managed to retain power after the disputed election, even though the international community believes there was widespread voter fraud. Mass demonstrations in Belarusagainst Lukashenko retaining powerwere put down violently by the security services.

Lukashenko has been a stalwart ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the former Soviet republic depends heavily on Moscow both politically and economically.

"I will ask Canada to consider imposing individual sanctions against state propagandistic military officials, employees of KGB secret services and pro-regime businesses," Tsikhanouskaya said.

"I can't understand why many of these people who fuel repressions and Putin's war machine ...are still able to travel in Europe."

Strong military ties between Russia, Belarus

There are many arrangements between Russiaand Belarusgoverning military co-operation, according to defence experts. They include Russia's use of the country as a springboard for the invasion of northern Ukraine, its use of a Belarusianradar facility and anair base, and a joint regional air defence system established in 2009.

Published reports earlier this month showed new satellite imagery that suggested thousands of Russian troops may have returned to Belarus. Thathas raised questions about the prospect ofanother thrust into Ukraine from the north or an attempt by Moscow and Minskto distract Kyiv.

In October, Lukashenko ordered his own troops to deploy with Russian forces near Ukraine, claiming there was a clear threat to Belarus from Kyiv and its backers in the West.

Tsikhanouskaya said it's likely a distraction.

"If such an [invasion] order is made, we call on Belaruians to disobey,to refuse to fulfilthe orders," she said. "We also called on Belarusians, call on your sons to join the anti-war movement."

Russia'swar on Ukraineis deeply unpopular among Belarusians, she said. A poll conducted by the Belarusian opposition, using donated Canadian government support, shows that 86 per cent of people in the country do not support the war.

Brian Whitmore, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, agreed that Putin's invasion is unpopular in Belarus and has galvanized the public.

"It has also sparked resistance among Belarusians, including sabotage of rail lines to prevent Russian troops from getting to the front and a hacking campaign by a group calling itself the Cyber Partisans," Whitmore wrote in a recent opinion article inForeign Policy Magazine.

Belarusian volunteers also have joined a Ukraine paramilitary group called the Kastus Kalinouski Battalion, named for the leader of a 19th-century Belarusian uprising against the Russian Empire.

"We are looking for assistance to our military volunteers who are fighting shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians. Winter is coming and people need warm clothes ... non-lethal equipment, medical aid. And it would be nice to send such humanitarian aid to [a] Belarusian battalion in Ukraine," said Tsikhanouskaya.