The European Parliament voted on Thursday in favor of sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his top aides over post-election beatings and arrests.
Over 600 people, including opposition candidates, journalists and human rights activists, were beaten and detained as riots followed the December 19 re-election of Lukashenko in disputed polls.
The sanctions, including a travel ban and freeze on assets, will remain in place until all the detainees are released.
Lukashenko and 40 other officials were initially banned from entering the EU in 2006, but restrictions were suspended two years later amid signs of a tentative political thaw in Belarus.
BRUSSELS, January 20 (RIA Novosti)
