Cyprus vetoed attempts by EU foreign ministers to impose sanctions against some 40 Belarusian officials, including Alexander Lukashenko.

The measures were being considered in response to the election that saw Lukashenko elected to a sixth term in office, and the Minsk government"s tough response to protesters who dispute the result.

Cyprus, which has good relations with the Lukashenko-supporting Russian government, had wanted the sanctions to be tied to sanctions against Turkey due to a dispute over gas drilling in the eastern Mediterranean.

Baltic neighbors Lithuania, which is hosting Belarus’ exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikanouskaya, and Latvia expressed disappointment at Cyprus’ veto.