Iceland, Norway, Ukraine And Four More Countries Join EU Sanctions On Belarus

Seven countries have joined the EU sanctions against Belarus, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania [the сandidate сountries to become member states], Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway [EFTA countries and members of the European Economic Area], and Ukraine supported the EU sanctions against Belarus. The states will ensure that their national policies conform to the EU Council Decision on adding 40 individuals to the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures.

Photo: Reuters

Recall that on 2 October, the EU adopted the first sanctions package against Belarus. It imposed travel bans and assets freezing on 40 top officials – security leadership [the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB], and members of the CEC. Then Alexander Lukashenko was not included in the sanctions list, “since this would undermine the demand of Brussels to engage in a dialogue with the opposition through the mediation of the OSCE”.

The second sanctions package was adopted on 6 November. The EU imposed sanctions on Lukashenko and 14 high-ranking officials. The list includes National Security Adviser Viktor Lukashenko, Head of the Presidential Administration of Belarus Igor Sergeenko, Chairman of the KGB Ivan Tertel, Chairman of the Investigative Committee Ivan Noskevich, Head of the Operational Analytical Center Andrei Pavlyuchenko, Lukashenko’s press secretary Natalya Eismont and others.