Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced new sanctions on Belarus today in response to its support for the Russian war on Ukraine.

Joly said in a statement that the Belarusian leadership enables human rights violations and allows the country to be a launching platform for Russian attacks.

Canada has added 22 Belarusian officials to the sanctions list, including those involved in the deployment and transfer of Russian military personnel and equipment.

The sanctions also affected 16 Belarusian companies in the military manufacturing, technology, engineering, banking, and railway sectors.

This announcement comes as the exiled opposition leader in the country, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visits Ottawa to hold meetings with Joly, members of parliament, and senators, where Joly stated that the two intend to discuss the complicity of President Alexander Lukashenko's regime in the war and the importance of supporting democracy in Belarus.

As a reminder, Lukashenko came to power in the widely considered rigged 2020 election.

In the same context, Joly's statement said, "President Lukashenko’s complete disregard for human rights, both domestically and internationally, is unjustifiable," adding: "These measures will place further pressure on the Belarusian leadership. President Lukashenko must stop being a tool of the Russian regime."