Croatian Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlic Radman on Friday expressed concern over the escalating violence in Belarus following the presidential election and announced that EU foreign ministers would consider introducing measures against that country for violating human rights.

“We are deeply concerned with the escalating violence after the presidential election that was held on August 9. We consider it to be unacceptable to use force against peaceful protestors and order arbitrary detentions. You cannot go against peaceful protestors with batons,” said Grlic Radman ahead of a video-conference of EU foreign ministers.

“We could possibly consider introducing measures against those responsible for the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms and if we come to an agreement on that approach then the key is to ensure that there are no negative consequences for ordinary citizens,” he added.

Reuters reported earlier that at least nine European countries advocate new sanctions against Belarus due to the contentious election and the violent attempt to stop protestors.

Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Denmark called for “restrictive measures” against those responsible for the official election result which indicate that President Alexander Lukashenko won 80% of the vote, as well as against those responsible for beating protestors.

“We have to carefully find a balance between pressure and engagement with Belarus President Lukashenko. I believe that the EU could be a mediator as soon as possible,” the leaders said in a letter as carried by Reuters.

Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said that it was not likely that a decision on sanctions would be made during today’s video-conference.

Grlic Radman said that the minsters would also discuss a long term approach seeing that over the past four years Belarus had taken certain positive steps.

“Our primary aim now is to ensure the respect of values, fundamental freedoms, democracy, rule of law, human rights in Belarus. We will concentrate our efforts on that but also on aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery from its consequences, particularly on the economic plan,” said Grlic Radman.

Asked about establishing contact with the Belarus president who Europe refers to as the last dictator, Grlic Radman said, “That is important for the EU because the EU wants to be influential with its values and wants to extend them as an obligation to its neighbourhood. We must also not forget the fact that Belarus is one of the countries in the Eastern Partnership.”

Grlic Radman announced that during the video-conference there would be talk of the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and tension between Turkey and Greece.