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| - Belarus said Monday it was suspending its participation in the Eastern Partnership, an initiative to boost ties between the EU and its ex-Soviet neighbours, after Brussels imposed new sanctions over the forced landing of a European flight. The European Union, United States, Britain and Canada sanctioned Belarus after a Ryanair passenger flight between European capitals was grounded in late May in Minsk, where authorities detained opposition activist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend who were on board. They were the latest in a series of penalties against President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for nearly three decades and clamped down on the opposition after mass protests erupted following disputed presidential elections last year. Belarus "cannot fulfil its obligations under this agreement in the context of sanctions and restrictions imposed by the EU," the Belarusian foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday. It said that Belarus's representative to the EU had been recalled to Minsk for consultations and "invited" the head of the EU Delegation to Belarus to return to Brussels and "convey to his leadership the position of the Belarusian side". The ministry also said the suspension of the agreement will have a "negative impact" on fighting illegal migration and organised crime as Belarus shares a border with EU members Poland and Lithuania. Earlier in June, Lithuanian border guards reported a sharp increase in migrants arriving from across the Belarus border, saying it suspected that Belarusian authorities allowed them to pass. EU chief Charles Michel on Monday said Belarus's decision to leave the Eastern Partnership was "another step backwards" that would "escalate tensions further". The EU launched its Eastern Partnership initiative in 2009, offering six former Soviet states -- Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia -- improved economic and political ties in return for reforms. Brussels insists the partnership -- seen by some countries as a precursor for joining the EU -- is "not aimed at any country" but Moscow has long seen it as an attempt to encroach on territory long in Russia's sphere of influence. Lukashenko, 66, was invited to the summit for the first time in 2017, after sanctions against him and other officials were lifted in a move to encourage progress on human rights in Belarus. He sent his foreign minister instead and hopes for democratic reforms were dashed after last year key opposition figures were arrested in Belarus ahead of a presidential vote, clearing the way for Lukashenko to secure a sixth term. Former banker Viktor Babaryko, who was considered one of Lukashenko's strongest opponents but was arrested before the vote, on Monday denied any wrongdoing as he addressed a court in Minsk. The 57-year-old faces 15 years in prison on bribe-taking and money laundering charges that his supporters believe are politically motivated. Lukashenko's only rival in the polls was Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a political novice who took the place of her jailed husband in the vote and quickly gained popularity. Despite Lukashenko's proclaimed victory, the opposition believes Tikhanovskaya, who was forced into exile to Lithuania, was the true winner and that the vote was rigged. Tikhanovskaya said on her Telegram channel on Monday that the move to leave the Eastern Partnership "only shows weakness and shortsightedness" of the current regime. Tens of thousands took to the streets of Belarus for weeks to protest the result, but were met with a harsh police crackdown. Washington and the EU have adopted a slew of sanctions on Lukashenko and his allies but s far the penalties appear to have had limited effect as Belarus maintains backing from key ally and creditor Russia. tk-acl/ach
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