On 3 August, the EU Council adopted new measures against Belarus, both for its involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and for human rights violations in the country.
Certain measures are intended to bring EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus closer together and to help prevent sanctions against the former being circumvented via the latter (see EUROPE 13230/15).
The Council decided to ban the export of goods and technologies adapted to the aviation and space industry, including aircraft engines and drones, and the sale, supply, transfer or export of firearms, their essential parts and components and ammunition.
The EU has also added further restrictions on the export of goods used by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, including semi-conductors, integrated electronic circuits, manufacturing and testing equipment, cameras and optical components, and extended the export ban on dual-use goods and technologies.
See the legal document: https://aeur.eu/f/8c1
In addition, the Council imposed restrictive measures against a further 38 individuals and 3 entities deemed responsible by the EU for “serious violations of human rights, contributing to the repression of civil society and democratic forces” in Belarus or “benefiting from and supporting Mr Lukashenko’s regime”, according to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
According to the Council, these include prison officials responsible for the torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including political prisoners, “leading propagandists” and members of the judiciary involved in the prosecution and conviction of democratic opponents, members of civil society and journalists.
State-owned companies Minsk Electrotechnical Plant named after V.I. Kozlov and BSW - management company of ‘BMC’ holding, which had taken measures, including dismissals, against their employees for taking part in peaceful demonstrations and strikes, and Belneftekhim, a state-controlled oil and chemical conglomerate, considered by the Belarusian leader to be one of his country’s most important and strategic companies, have been sanctioned.
In total, the restrictive measures taken by the EU against Belarus now apply to 233 individuals and 37 entities.
See the Official Journal: https://aeur.eu/f/8c2 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)