Belarus

Belarus appears resigned to the likelihood of European Union sanctions as a result of a violent crackdown on the opposition in December.

“We hope the decision of the EU will not be kind of irrevocable or irreversible, not to drive the situation into a corner,” Belarusian foreign minister Sergei Martynov told EUobserver. “The events of the night of 19 December will of course have an impact. But this was not an impact sought by the government.”

Meantime, Sovietskaya Belarus, the official newspaper of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s administration, has accused Poland and Germany of attempting to oust the leader. Both nations have refuted the allegation, The Canadian Press reports.