Tokyo. February 26. INTERFAX - Japan is coordinating the imposition of sanctions against Belarus for supporting Russia in conducting a special military operation in Ukraine, the Jiji news agency reports, citing informed sources.
"Japan today started coordinating actions to impose economic sanctions against Belarus," several government officials told the agency.
Meanwhile, Australia is also taking steps to impose sanctions on key figures in the Belarusian government.
As Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said during a press conference, the Australian authorities have begun to develop "sanctions against key figures in the Belarusian government who contributed to the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine."
The US Treasury Department on Thursday announced sanctions against 24 Belarusian individuals and legal entities, including Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, for supporting Russia's military operation in Ukraine.
"The US Treasury Department continues to damage the military and financial capabilities of Belarus with targeted sanctions. In addition, due to the relationship between the two countries, the actions of the Ministry of Finance taken today against Russia will also cause serious economic damage to the Lukashenka regime," Finance Minister Janet Yellen said in a statement.
Two Belarusian state-owned banks, Belinvestbank and Dabrabyt Bank, were sanctioned, in particular.
