European Union Imposed Economic Sanctions against Minsk

The EU Council approved economic sanctions against Minsk. In particular, they affect the oil refining industry, finance and the production of cigarettes in Belarus. The European Union has introduced new economic sanctions against the regime of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus. The EU Council made the corresponding decision on Thursday, June 24. This was reported by its press service. According to the DW correspondent in Brussels, the official publication of the decision on the sanctions is expected later that day. The report notes that the European Union introduced new restrictions in response to "the escalation of serious violations of human rights in Belarus, violent repressions against civil society, democratic opposition and journalists, as well as the forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Minsk on May 23, 2021 and the subsequent detention of journalist Roman Protasevich and Sophia Sapega". EU sanctions will affect oil refining and potash industry New economic sanctions apply to a number of sectors of the Belarusian economy. "Trade in petroleum products, potassium chloride and products used for the production or manufacturing of tobacco products is restricted," the press release said. The EU has imposed restrictions on access to its capital markets. It is also prohibited to provide insurance services to the government and public bodies and agencies. The European Investment Bank (EIB) will stop any disbursement for projects in the public sector of Belarus. In addition, the sanctions prohibit "to directly or indirectly sell, transfer or export" to anyone in Belarus equipment, technologies or software intended to intercept the Internet or telephone communications, as well as military or dual-use technologies to certain individuals or organizations in Belarus. All these measures have been put in place, according to the press service of the EU Council. Earlier, the European Union introduced the fourth package of personal sanctions against Belarus.