EU imposes new sanctions against individuals due to human rights violations in Belarus

The European Union responds to the deterioration of the internal situation in Belarus by imposing new sanctions against individuals responsible for serious human rights violations or for undermining democracy or the rule of law. The EU Member States approved the additional sanctions on 26 July 2024.

The new sanctions are imposed against members of the judiciary, leaders of the state security services and prisons and representatives of media outlets spreading Russian and Belarusian state propaganda.

The individuals listed under the EU sanctions regime are banned from travelling to or through the EU and their assets and economic resources will be frozen. Additionally, it is prohibited to provide them funds or economic resources.

The EU has imposed sanctions against Belarus since 2004 in response to both the country’s internal situation and its complicity in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The EU has imposed sanctions against Belarusian individuals, entities and sectors of economy. The current sanctions list holds 261 individuals and 37 entities. Belarus is also subject to an arms embargo and a ban on the overflight of EU airspace and on access to EU airports by Belarusian airlines. The previous extension and harmonisation of sanctions against Belarus were decided by the EU in June 2024.

EU sanctions against Belarus:

• Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/2116(Link to another website.)
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2113(Link to another website.)