EU extends sanctions against Belarusian officials, keeps arms embargo


The Council of Europe has prolonged sanctions against the official Minsk until 28 February 2018. The sanctions include an arms embargo and a travel ban for four persons, who EU believes are related to the disappearances in 1999-2000.

Entry into the European Union is banned for Uladzimir Naumau, Dzmitry Paulichenka, Yury Sivakou and Viktar Sheiman. The EU suspects them of involvement in the 1999 disappearance of the former Interior Minister Yury Zakharanka, vice-speaker of the Supreme Council, ex-chairman of the Central Election Commission Viktar Hanchar and businessman Anatol Krasouski, as well as cameraman Dzmitry Zavadski in July 2000. The crimes have not yet been solved.

Also, there is an arms embargo over Belarus, but an exception has been made: it is possible to supply equipment for biathlon, provided that in each case the competent authorities of the country that buys equipment gives prior approval.

On February 15th 2016, the EU canceled most of the sanctions that were imposed in 2004. Assets were unfrozen and visa bans lifted for 170 citizens of Belarus, including Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his entourage, as well as judges, prosecutors, and the three companies.

The European Council underlines that it welcomes Belarus’ steps in the area of human rights and in the relations between Belarus and the European Union.

Sanctions against Belarus were also introduced by the US Congress in 2007. In October 2015, after the presidential elections, sanctions by Washington were temporarily suspended. In 2016, sanctions were left frozen. At present, they are neither canceled nor renewed.

consilium.europa.eu

TWITTER