25/02/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 25 February, the Council extended, by written procedure, the restrictive measures against Belarus for one year, until 28 February 2020. These measures include an embargo on arms, a ban on exports of equipment that could be used for internal repression, but also a travel ban and assets freeze for four persons linked to the unresolved disappearances of two opposition members, a businessman and a journalist in 1999 and 2000. The Council also extended the derogation from the restrictive measures allowing the export of biathlon equipment to the country, which however remains subject to prior authorisation by the competent national authorities on a case-by-case basis. Sanctions against the four persons linked to the disappearances were introduced in 2004 and the embargo in 2011. (CG)