EU prepares new sanctions against Belarus for its role in Russia's aggression against Ukraine
The European Union has prepared a new package of sanctions against Belarus for its role in supporting Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Bloomberg; European Pravda reports
The proposed measures largely duplicate the restrictions that the EU has already imposed on Russia, in particular on the export of key technologies and the energy sector.
In particular, it concerns:
- Export bans on dual-use goods and technologies used for military purposes and that could enhance the nation’s industrial capacity
- Sanctions on oil, coal, steel products and gold
- Trade restrictions on luxury goods, investments and the provision of certain services
- Measures that would hit the nation’s aviation and energy sectors and key sources of revenue
Similar to the EU sanctions imposed on Russia, the draft contains exemptions for medicines, agricultural and food products, as well as permits for relevant financial transactions involving sanctioned persons.
The legislation will also allow the EU to prosecute those who help circumvent sanctions imposed on Belarusian individuals and legal entities.
The approval of the proposed measures requires the support of all EU member states.
Background: Russia used Belarus as a springboard for a full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022. Russian troops and equipment remain in the country. In addition, Russia had been hitting Ukraine from Belarusian territory. The armed forces of the two countries regularly conduct joint exercises.
The EU is also working on the 10th package of sanctions against Russia as well as on limiting prices for Russian oil products, and it aims to adopt both documents before the embargo is introduced next week.
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