Why the US should sanction Russia if Vladimir Putin sends forces to Belarus

President Trump and Congress should pledge that new sanctions will follow any Russian deployment of security forces to Belarus.

The warning is necessary following Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s request for Vladimir Putin’s security assistance. Following his election theft on Aug. 9, Lukashenko has used violence in an effort to intimidate protesters into staying home. It hasn’t worked. Instead, the dictator has only galvanized deeper resistance to his rule. Protests have grown, culminating in massive street marches through Minsk on Sunday. Things haven’t improved this week for the man who has ruled Belarus for 26 years. Holding a rally at a factory on Monday, Lukashenko was met not by cheers, but by roars of “go away! Go away!”