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Poland Blacklists Belarus Officials

   VOA News  18 January 2011
   Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (file photo)

   Poland  has  drawn  up  a  list  of officials from Belarus who will be
   barred   from  Poland  in  response  to  the  Belarusian  government's
   crackdown  on  opposition  protesters  after  December's  presidential
   election.
   Polish  media  report the list includes Belarusian President Alexander
   Lukashenko and other members of his government.
   The  Polish foreign ministry on Tuesday confirmed the list exists, but
   would not say who is on it.
   After  Mr.  Lukashenko  was overwhelmingly re-elected to a fourth term
   last  month,  opposition  supporters took to the streets, claiming the
   election had been fixed.
   Belarusian security personnel used violence to disperse the protesters
   and  arrested  opposition leaders, drawing criticism from European and
   U.S. leaders.
   The  European  Union  also  is  set  to consider sanctions against top
   Belarusian officials.
   Poland  and  Germany  have  been  strong  critics of the government in