New EU sanctions against Belarus mirror trade restrictions on Russia

February 24, Pozirk. The European Union has adopted the 16th package of sanctions punishing Russia for invading Ukraine on this day three years ago, the Council of the EU has said in a press release.
New restrictions also affect Russia’s ally Belarus, mirroring “the trade-related sanctions agreed against the Russian Federation,” it noted. In particular, the new sanctions package limits the sale or provision of services and software, deposits and crypto-asset wallets and transport services.
The EU also updated criteria for punishing persons, entities or bodies supporting or benefiting from the Belarusian military and industrial sectors.
New sanctions target 48 persons and 35 entities that the EU considers responsible for undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. It will be clear whether any Belarusian individuals or companies were listed as soon as the official document is published.
The EU started introducing sanctions against Belarus in 2020, two years before Russia’s war on Ukraine, accusing its government of vote rigging and human rights abuses.
The Belarusian defense sector was targeted later for supplying arms to Russia and circumventing Western sanctions.
However, sanctions against Minsk have been reportedly weaker than those against Moscow, allowing Belarus to become a way station for sanctioned goods to reach Russia.

Belarus' officials urge OSCE PA members to drop sanctions against Minsk
- PoliticsRyžankoŭ, Lavrov discuss Belarus’ participation in peace talksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyŁukašenka links potato shortage to discontent with price controlsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityRussia, Ukraine swap more prisoners of warThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ private farms increased output by 25 percent in four yearsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus posts this year’s highest PPI among EAEU membersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyŁukašenka gives CEO until September 1 to fix Biełaruśfilm or face “toughest decisions”The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition leaders preparing for Brussels consultative group talksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietySome of arrested Mazyr refinery employees released as witnessesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsBelarus’ top diplomat in Moscow to discuss ways to counter sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyMinsk expects to boost trade with Middle East via LebanonThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- EconomyMore than 100 companies defied price caps since January – ministryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus arrests Russian man traveling to Poland with fake Ukrainian IDThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Economy
- Politics, Security
- Politics, SocietyNational University of Kyiv to host Belarusian resistance exhibitionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: designated political prisoner walks freeThe material is available only to POZIRK+