EU adds 12 people, 8 entities to Belarus sanctions list

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – The European Union on Friday added 12 people and eight entities to its sanctions list for the “ongoing internal repression and human rights abuses in Belarus.”

A statement from the EU Council said the targeted “individuals are responsible for the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition, or benefit from and support the (Alexander) Lukashenko regime.”

“This illegitimate regime continues widespread human rights violations and brutal repression against all segments of the Belarusian society,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

The new entries include high-ranking state officials, businessmen, members of the judicial branch and people the EU described as “prominent propagandists, responsible for spreading disinformation and calling for violence.”

The bloc has also sanctioned companies manufacturing potash, tobacco and public transport vehicles, as well as state broadcaster Belteleradio.

This is the sixth round of restrictive measures that the EU has imposed on Belarus since October 2020, and brings the total number of targeted individuals and entities to 195 and 35, respectively.

The sanctions include an asset freeze for both categories, in addition to a travel ban for the listed people.​​​​​​​