Biden extends state of national emergency over Belarus for one year

MADRID, 14 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, has approved a one-year extension to the state of national emergency regarding Belarus, in the midst of the Russian military offensive against Ukraine, and has stressed that "the actions and policies of certain members of the Belarusian government" they pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the North American country.

Biden has indicated in a statement published on the White House website that "the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13405 --dating from 2006--, which was expanded in scope with Executive Order 14038 --from August 2021--, must continue to stand beyond June 16, 2022."

The 2006 order was issued in the face of "actions and policies by certain members of the Government of Belarus and others to undermine the democratic processes or institutions of Belarus, manifested primarily in the undemocratic elections of March 2006, abuses related to political repression , including arrests and disappearances, and corruption".

This order was expanded in 2021 because "the harmful actions and abuses of the Belarusian regime aimed at suppressing democracy and the exercise of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms in Belarus, including illegal and oppressive activities stemming from the fraudulent presidential elections August 2020 and beyond, including the elimination of political opposition and civil society organizations and the disruption and jeopardization of international civilian air travel, pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to United States foreign policy ".

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is the closest ally of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, in the region and has allowed the use of the country's territory in the framework of the invasion of Ukraine, unleashed on February 24 by order of Putin, who days before had recognized the independence of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (east).