EU tightens grip: New sanctions strike Belarusian trade
The European Union, in response to the repression of civil society, imposed new sanctions on Belarus on Monday. These include two companies, one of which facilitates circumventing restrictions on the export of cars from the EU.
2:23 PM EST, December 16, 2024
On Monday, December 16, the European Union decided to impose sanctions on 26 individuals and two companies from Belarus. This move is a reaction to the repression of civil society. Among those sanctioned are judges who issued politically motivated verdicts, including against individuals criticizing the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.
The sanctions also targeted the heads and deputy heads of penal institutions, as well as the head of the medical unit in one of these institutions, where political prisoners are held in inhumane conditions.
The list of sanctions includes owners and co-owners of companies that benefited from the Lukashenko regime, benefiting from privileges granted to their enterprises.
A blow to Belarusian car imports and transport
Among the companies sanctioned is Vlate Logistik LLC, a Belarusian transportation and storage company that operates two checkpoints on the border with one of the EU countries and benefits from tax breaks. The restrictions also affect shareholders of this company.
The second entity is Ruzekspeditsiya LLC, which facilitated circumventing EU sanctions by participating in the delivery of cars whose export from the EU to Belarus is prohibited. The sanctions also included the owner of this company, Aleh Arlou.
Currently, EU sanctions against Belarus affect 287 individuals and 39 entities. They are subject to asset freezes, and citizens of the European Union and companies are prohibited from providing them with funds. Additionally, these individuals are banned from traveling through EU countries.
