{"id":204463,"date":"2026-09-19T15:29:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T12:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/204463\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T15:29:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T12:29:58","slug":"switzerland-aligns-itself-with-eus-april-package-of-sanctions-against-belarus","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/204463\/","title":{"rendered":"Switzerland aligns\u00a0itself\u00a0with EU\u2019s\u00a0April\u00a0package of sanctions\u00a0against Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (Eberhard Grossgasteiger \/ unsplash.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 19, Pozirk<\/em>. <\/strong>Switzerland has aligned itself with the European Union\u2019s package of restrictions imposed on Belarus on April 23 over the situation in the country and its involvement in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn view of the ongoing support that Belarus is providing to Russia in its war against Ukraine, the Federal Council decided on 18 September to impose further sanctions against Belarus,\u201d Switzerland\u2019s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs says in a press release<\/a>. As a result, the sanctions regime against Belarus will be aligned \u201cmore closely with that applied to Russia.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the trade sector, the new measures extend the export ban already in place on goods that might contribute to Belarus\u2019 military and technological enhancement and goods intended to enhance its industrial capacities, the press release says. In addition, the Federal Council has decided to expand the list of goods and technologies subject to the transit ban via Belarus. Further restrictions are also being introduced on the import of economically significant goods that generate substantial export revenues for Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the financial sector, a ban on transactions involving certain cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies \u2013 including the Belarusian digital rouble \u2013 now applies, in line with the sanctions against Russia, the press release says. Furthermore, the Federal Council has banned transactions with cryptoasset service providers and decentralised platforms established in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Council has also decided to extend the ban on the provision of \u201cmanaged security services\u201d to Belarus, its public bodies and corporations as well as services directly related to tourism activities in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To protect Swiss companies, the Federal Council has also introduced further measures relating to the satisfaction of certain claims and their enforcement through the courts in third countries, the press release says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 14, new Swiss Ambassador Stefan Estermann presented a copy of his credentials to Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Ihar Siakreta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Switzerland is one of the few Western nations that has an ambassador in Minsk. Bern has aligned itself with most of the EU sanctions targeting individuals and legal entities in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Hanievi\u010d, the Belarusian ambassador to Switzerland, told Russia\u2019s RIA Novosti<\/em> last year that Minsk is not interested in a long-term freeze of relations with Switzerland despite tensions for which he blamed Bern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New Swiss ambassador presents copy of credentials to Belarusian deputy foreign minister<\/h3>\n
September 14, Pozirk. New Swiss Ambassador Stefan Estermann presented a copy of his credentials to Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Ihar Siakreta, the Belarusian foreign ministry reported on Monday. The sides discussed \u201cthe current state and prospects for stepping up cooperation …<\/div>\n \n