On June 21 and 24, 2021 the Council of the European Union adopted two important measures against Belarus in the field of export control and international economic sanctions. I
The action has been taken to respond to the escalation of serious human rights violations in Belarus and the violent repression of civil society, democratic opposition and journalists, as well as to the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk on May 23, 2021 and the detention of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega.
In particular, on June 21, 2021 the Council of the European Union decided to impose restrictive measures against some Belarusian entities active in the defense, automotive, oil and tobacco sectors, considered as supporters of Lukashenko regime.
Currently 166 persons and 15 entities are subject to the following restrictive measures enacted by the European Union:
- travel ban;
- asset freeze;
- prohibition of making available, directly or indirectly, funds or economic resources.
Moreover, on June 24, 2021 the Council of the European Union introduced new targeted economic sanctions against Belarus, including:
- the prohibition to directly or indirectly sell, supply, transfer or export to anyone in Belarus equipment, technology or software intended primarily for use in the monitoring or interception of the internet and of telephone communications;
- the prohibition to directly or indirectly sell, supply, transfer or export to specified persons, entities or bodies in Belarus dual-use goods and technologies for military use;
- restriction on trade of petroleum products, potassium chloride ('potash'), and goods used for the production or manufacturing of tobacco products;
- restriction on access to European Union capital markets;
- the prohibition to provide some services to the Belarusian government and Belarusian public bodies and agencies;
- the stop of any European Investment Bank’s disbursement or payment under any existing agreements in relation to projects in the public sector, and any existing technical assistance service contracts.
Similar sanctions were adopted simultaneously by United States, Canada and United Kingdom competent authorities.
To all companies that operate on Belarusian market, to Belarusian exporters and re-exporters, it is recommended to carry out a compliance assessment of their position with the above and to consistently check the development of export control policies.
