Brussels, 30/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 30 October, the Council decided to extend the EU's restrictive measures against Belarus until 31 October 2015. “This is because not all political prisoners have been released and rehabilitated, and the respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles has not significantly improved in Belarus”, the Council states in its press release. The Council has updated the list of people and entities targeted by the sanctions, removing 24 people and seven entities, as it considered there were no longer grounds for keeping them on the list.
The legal acts, adopted by written procedure, will be take effect on 31 October with their publication in the EU Official Journal. Since June 2011 the measures have included an arms embargo and an embargo on equipment for internal repression. Over 200 people “responsible for human rights violations” remain subject to asset freezes and travel bans, and a dozen entities are subject to an asset freeze in the EU.
In its press release, the Council stated that the EU was maintaining contact with Belarus and was maintaining its policy of critical engagement with the country, “intended to promote the respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles”. (CG)