President of Belarus 2020-10-13
2020-10-13
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The UK does not recognize the results of the rigged presidential election in Belarus. The issue of imposing sanctions on the President of Belarus by both the UK and EU is under discussion.
What comparative assessment has he made of the ability of (a) the UK and (b) the EU to impose sanctions on the President of Belarus?
The UK does not accept the results of the rigged presidential election in Belarus. We have worked with our international partners to promote a peaceful resolution. We have condemned the actions of the Belarusian authorities, and we hold those responsible for human rights abuses to account.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific comparative assessment was provided comparing UK's ability versus EU's ability to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials.
Working With International Partners
Condemning Actions
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Guy Verhofstadt expressed frustration with the EU's inability to impose sanctions due to unanimity rules. The question focuses on the EU's capability in imposing sanctions compared to the UK post-Brexit.
Everybody's favourite continental politician Guy Verhofstadt recently expressed his huge frustration when he said that unlike the UK and Canada, which have imposed sanctions on Belarus for human rights abuses, the European Union has been unable to do so because of the unanimity rules. What assessment has my right hon. Friend made of the EU foreign policy ability to impose things such as sanctions?
I thank my hon. Friend. He makes a powerful point about the agility and autonomy we have with our new Magnitsky sanctions regime, and some of the latitude we will have post-Brexit. The EU has followed our lead after we imposed targeted sanctions on Lukashenko's son and six other officials on 29 September.
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Assessment & feedback
While acknowledging Guy Verhofstadt's comments, no specific comparative assessment of the EU's capability in imposing sanctions was provided.
Agility And Autonomy
New Magnitsky Sanctions Regime
Response accuracy