The European Union intends to impose economic sanctions on 31 high-ranking officials of Belarus - including the Minister of Internal Affairs - by mid-September, Reuters reported, citing three EU diplomats.

“We initially agreed on 14 names but many states felt that was not sufficient. We have now reached consensus on another 17,” one EU diplomat said. “These are senior officials responsible for the election, for violence and for the crackdown.”

The names could be added or removed from the list, but diplomats said a formal agreement is likely to be reached on September 21, when EU foreign ministers meet as scheduled. The sanctions take effect on September 22.

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia introduced their own sanctions on Belarusian officials at the end of August. EU diplomats declined to say how close the lists of the Baltic states and the EU are, fearing that they will be warned about the need to withdraw assets from banks.

Interior Minister Yuri Karaev and his deputy are expected to be included in the EU's list, along with senior members of the election commission, representatives of the security and justice authorities, and ministers.