US Targets Belarus with Sanctions Amid Western Outcry Over Plane

WASHINGTON - The United States on Friday announced punitive measures against Belarus targeting the regime of strongman President Alexander Lukashenko, who met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin amid a global outcry over the forced diversion of a European plane.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki called for "a credible international investigation into the events of May 23," which she called "a direct affront to international norms." Belarus scrambled a military jet to divert a Ryanair plane and arrested 26-year-old opposition blogger and activist Roman Protasevich who was onboard, triggering a global outcry. The White House announced it was working with the European Union on a list of targeted sanctions against key members of Lukashenko's regime.