Australia targets Belarus in fresh round of sanctions
Australia has placed new sanctions on Belarusian PresidentĀ Alexander Lukashenko and his family, following their support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The government has also imposed sanctions on 22 Russian propagandists and disinformation operatives, including senior editors of state broadcaster Russia Today.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the latest round of sanctions against the Belarus president was due to the country providing strategic support to Russia.
āThe Belarusian government allowed Russian military forces to train in their country for weeks ahead of the invasion,ā she said in a statement.
āSince then, it has allowed Russia to fire ballistic missiles from Belarus into Ukraine, enabled the transport of Russian military personnel, heavy weapons and tanks into Ukraine, provided refuelling points in Belarus for Russian military aircraft and stored Russian weapons and military equipment.ā
The Belarusian sanctions will also apply to the presidentās son,Ā Viktor Lukashenko, and First LadyĀ Galina Lukashenko.
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There are now sanctions against 32 pro-Kremlin propagandists, including editors from the Strategic Culture Foundation, InfoRos and NewsFront.
āThese latest steps, one month into Russiaās invasion of Ukraine, continue our focused efforts to ensure that Russia and those who support its illegal, unprovoked invasion of its democratic neighbour, pay a high cost,ā Senator Payne said.
āThe Australian government reiterates our unwavering support for Ukraineās sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the people of Ukraine.ā
It comes as former prime minister Kevin Rudd has backed US calls for Russia to be kicked out of the G20.
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Overnight, US President Joe Biden said Russia should be removed from the global body following its invasion of Ukraine.
President Biden said if countries such as Indonesia, which is hosting this yearās G20 summit, do not agree with Russiaās removal then Ukraine should be allowed to attend the meeting of global leaders.
Mr Rudd, who helped elevate the G20 into a leadersā summit during his prime ministerial stint, said Australia should back the US in calling for Russiaās removal.
āGiven the egregious action by Russia in the territorial invasion of Ukraine, I believe that as a treaty ally of the United States we should support the leadership of the US president on this matter, until we have a resolution of the situation in the Ukraine,ā he told ABC Radio on Friday.
āIt took a lot of diplomacy to get Australia in a position at the top of the economic table of the world.ā
On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said allowing Russian President Vladimir Putinās presence at the G20 meeting in October would be a step too far.
Federal Labor has also joined calls for Australia to work in lockstep with other allies, with deputy leader Richard Marles indicating Australia should work with other G20 nations on how to handle Russiaās presence.
āWe should be working with Indonesia and all the G20 countries to make sure that at the next G20 there is complete unanimity in condemning Russia for its war aggression in Ukraine,ā Mr Marles told the Nine Network.
āThatās really important that the G20 adds its voice to the global communities, which weāre seeing with NATO, which weāve seen with the General Assembly of the UN.
āItās really important the G20 adds its voice to all the voices in condemning Russia for what itās doing.ā
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