EU Ends Nearly all Belarus Sanctions, Says Source

The European Union on Monday lifted nearly all its sanctions on Belarus, including against strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, after improvements in the country's human rights record, an EU source said.

The bloc in October suspended its asset freezes and travel ban sanctions against 170 individuals and three entities in Belarus, and foreign ministers and has now decided to make that decision permanent, the source said.

Four people not included in the October suspension because of their involvement in "unresolved disappearances" will remain blacklisted and a longstanding arms embargo will also stay in place for another 12 months.

At a regular meeting, the bloc's foreign ministers noted that Lukashenko had, as promised, released the last political prisoners he held -- a "long sought step," according to a draft statement seen by AFP.

This represented "an opportunity for EU-Belarus relations to develop on a more positive agenda" and accordingly, ministers agreed to drop most of the sanctions, the statement said.

EU diplomatic sources told AFP last week there were some misgivings about ending the sanctions but that on balance, most felt it was the best option to ensure dialogue with Lukashenko and support efforts to improve human rights in the former Soviet-ruled state.

The sources also said that the EU was mindful of the wider picture, notably Belarus' role in hosting a series of peace talks between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.

In power since 1994 and dubbed Europe's 'Last Dictator' by Washington, Lukashenko's release of the political prisoners was seen as a major step forward despite opposition warnings that it was a sham and Brussels should not drop the sanctions.