EU prolongs arms embargo and sanctions against 4 Belarusian individuals for one year

Summary:

The Council of the European Union decided on 25 February 2019 to prolong sanctions against Belarus for one year, comprising an arms embargo and restrictive measures against four individuals.

Further information:

These measures include an arms embargo, ban on the export of goods for internal repression and an asset freeze and travel ban against four people listed in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist in 1999 and in 2000.

The Council also prolonged the derogation to the restrictive measures to allow the export of biathlon equipment to Belarus. This derogation was extended to a limited number of specific-use sporting rifles and sporting pistols, subject to authorisation procedures.

Background information:

The restrictive measures against Belarus were first introduced in 2004 in response to the disappearance of the four persons referred to above. The Council later adopted further restrictive measures against those involved in the violation of international electoral standards and international human rights law, as well as in the crackdown on civil society and democratic opposition. The arms embargo was introduced in 2011. On 15 February 2016, the Council decided to lift the restrictive measures against 170 individuals and four companies, while maintaining the arms embargo and the sanctions against the four persons.

News

Radio Free Europe, 20/02/2019: EU Extends Belarus Arms Embargo https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-extends-belarus-arms-embargo/29780722.html

TASS, 25/02/2019: EU extends arms embargo and sanctions against four Belarusian individuals http://tass.com/economy/1046342

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