Canada imposes sanctions on Belarus, cites human rights abuses

Belarusian President and presidential candidate Alexander Lukashenko visits a polling station during the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus January 26, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada said on Monday it would impose sanctions on 10 individuals and 12 entities in Belarus, citing what it called "gross and systematic human rights violations" by Minsk.

In a statement, the foreign ministry also condemned what it called Sunday's fraudulent presidential election. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in a vote that Western governments rejected as a sham.