Economic Sanctions Now!

The EU's travel sanctions on the Lukashenko regime have been described as "symbolic" at best, as the Belarusian president and his entourage pop up across Europe as members of their national Olympic Committee.
 
The countries concerned tend to be those where the regime has economic interests, and one wonders if these are the same countries that are blocking economic sanctions at the European Council.
 
Now is the very moment to prepare for targetted economic sanctions, as the EU is faced with an open goal. One wonders, as always, how far they will miss this one by.
 
As Vladimir Putin prepares to be reinstalled upon the president's throne in Moscow in March, Lukashenko will be aware that he will face demands for payback. Putin has been channelling funds to Belarus.
 
This will actually push Lukashenko in a westerly direction, as he will need to rob Paul to pay Pyotr, as one might say. Lukashenko will come under pressure to surrender economic assets to the Siloviki - those politicians and businessmen from the security services with whom Putin surrounds himself. A bit like the Krays, but with degrees in international relations. However, if Lukashenko surrenders his economic assets, he loses his power base. His position depends on this power base entirely.
 
Before any dialogue is entered into, the EU must demand concessions on human rights issues including the release of political prisoners, the end of administrative detention, and an end to capital punishment.
 
Belarus is a European nation, which is on the verge of democratic change. For how long must we keep them waiting?