The European Union has expanded its sanctions lists against Belarus, adding representatives of the country’s law enforcement system to it, follows from a statement released by the Council of the EU.
⠀
“Today the Council decided to impose restrictive measures against an additional 28 individuals for their role in ongoing internal repression and human rights violations in Belarus,” the statement said.
⠀
In particular, two deputy heads of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (GUBOPiK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, who are accused of political persecution in Belarus, fall under the new sanctions.
⠀
In addition, the new sanctions include various representatives of the judicial system, namely prosecutors and judges, who are accused in the EU of allegedly imposing politically motivated sentences.
⠀
In total, EU restrictive measures against Belarus now apply to 261 individuals and 37 organizations.
⠀
The individuals named today are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from giving them access to funds. Individuals are also banned from travel, preventing them from entering or transiting through EU territories, the statement said.
