Five Countries Joined EU Sanctions against Belarus

Restrictions on the import of oil products, fertilizers and tobacco products from Belarus were introduced by North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Iceland and Norway. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Iceland and Norway have joined the economic sanctions imposed by the European Union at the end of June against Alexander Lukashenko's regime in Belarus. This was reported on Tuesday, July 13, on the EU Council website. The EU welcomed the decision of these states. The package of penalties, which these countries have joined, implies a ban on the import of a number of petroleum products, including gasoline, motor oils and natural gas, if they "come from Belarus or have been exported from Belarus." Individuals and companies in the EU have also been banned from providing financing, intermediary services or technical assistance related to the import or transport of petroleum products. Similar restrictions are imposed on potash fertilizers and tobacco products. Current EU penalties against the Lukashenko regime The fourth package of sanctions, which includes these measures, was adopted on June 24. And at the end of 2020, the European Union introduced three packages of restrictions against Belarus for falsifying the presidential elections on August 9, 2020 and for reprisals against protesters. The sanctions list includes 88 people, including Alexander Lukashenko himself and seven enterprises. On June 5, EU penalties against state-owned Belarusian airlines came into force. They are prohibited from using the airspace and airports of the European Union. This step was Brussels' response to the forced landing of the Ryanair liner by Minsk and the detention of opposition blogger Roman Protasevich and his companion, Russian woman Sofia Sapega.