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   The European Union is punishing the state airline of Belarus and a Syrian   
   airline for their part in channeling asylum seekers via Belarus to the   
   European Union. The EU countries have also decided that nine other companies   
   and organizations and 17 people will be sanctioned.   
       
   The sanctions must end the practices of President Alexander Lukashenko, who   
   according to the EU is using asylum seekers to take revenge on the union. He   
   brought Iraqis and Syrians to his country, among others, and then sent them   
   across the border with EU countries Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Thousands of   
   people were stranded in the freezing cold.   
       
   In addition to state airline Belavia and the Syrian Cham Wings, the EU is also   
   punishing Belarusian border officials and judges, among others, for their   
   cooperation in the "state-led people smuggling" that Brussels blames on   
   Lukashenko.   
      
   --- DB4 - Nov 27 2021   
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