Azernews.Az

MINSK – European aspirations for a liberalisation in Belarus have been dashed by the bloody confrontation between protesters and police on election day, and the subsequent crackdown on opposition activists, BBC reported.

Tensions between the EU and Belarus are now greater than at any time since the last, controversial presidential election in Belarus in 2006.

In Brussels on Wednesday the EU foreign policy chief, Baroness Ashton, urged Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov to release political detainees and stop the harassment of opposition activists.

Belarus opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich has called for a dual approach, focused on isolating President Alexander Lukashenko whilst making it easier for ordinary Belarusians to travel to, study and work in, the EU.

Poland and Lithuania have already dropped visa fees for Belarusian citizens. The other EU member states continue to impose a levy considerably higher than that paid by Russians or Ukrainians - Belarusians pay 60 euros (£50), the others, 35.

In addition to the condemnation of the Belarusian authorities from individual member states, there appears to be a consensus across the EU that sanctions against Belarus must be reimposed and strengthened.

EU governments are considering whether to reimpose a travel ban on Mr Lukashenko and his top aides.

The foreign ministers of the Netherlands, the UK, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Poland have all called for clear signals to be sent to Minsk.

Comments from EU diplomats suggest up to 100 names are being studied. Visa sanctions were initially imposed by the EU in 2006, but suspended in 2008 amid signs of a political thaw in Belarus.

The only voice of "dissent" has been Italy, which has usually insisted that dialogue with Minsk is the only way to bring about political change in the country.

The EU could also look at restrictions on the fees paid - especially by Germany - for Belarusian oil products; and freezing Belarusian official assets in the EU.