The Council of the European Union announced on Monday the extension of existing sanctions to include 28 new individuals due to their alleged participation in “ongoing internal repression and human rights violations in Belarus.” These sanctions restrict the listed individuals or entities from traveling to or within the EU and prohibit EU citizens and companies from making funds available to them. The complete list now comprises 261 individuals and 37 entities.
Among the new additions, targeted by the Regulation published on July 26, are Belarusian government officials, operators of correctional institutions, and members of state-run media. This move marks the latest effort by the EU to respond to perceived human rights abuses and political repression in Belarus.
The EU initially imposed sanctions against Belarus following the 2020 elections, which have been widely considered fraudulent. Sanctions were later expanded in reaction to ongoing violence against peaceful protestors and Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The EU has stated that these sanctions aim to pressure Belarusian political leadership to prevent further violence and repression. Concurrently, the Council of the EU has earmarked €3 billion to support a future democratic transition in Belarus, contingent on the adoption of democratic reforms by Belarusian authorities.
The United States and Canada have also levied similar sanctions against Belarusian officials in response to human rights violations.
Since the disputed 2020 election, Belarus has increasingly utilized property confiscation as a means of political repression. This has been condemned by various international bodies, including the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the UN Human Rights Council, and the US Secretary of State, all of whom have criticized the repression and imprisonment of peaceful demonstrators and opposition activists in Belarus.
For more details on the EU’s recent actions, see the full article from JURIST.