In a decisive move to address the escalating human rights abuses and Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine, the European Union (EU) has introduced a fresh round of individual sanctions targeting Belarusian individuals and entities. The sanctions have received strong support from Poland’s Ambassador to the EU, Andrzej Sados, who hailed them as a necessary response to the aggressive actions of Belarus.
In a statement to PAP (Polish Press Agency) on Friday morning, Ambassador Sados emphasized that the new sanctions are not only a response from Poland but also from the entire European Union. He made it clear that those responsible for perpetrating repression against Belarusian society, the media, and the Polish minority in Belarus, along with acts of violence against activists such as Andrzej Poczobut, will be held accountable for their actions.
The latest measures, implemented on Thursday by Brussels, target 38 individuals and three entities directly involved in severe human rights violations, including the persecution of Andrzej Poczobut. Among those affected are penitentiary officials responsible for torturing and ill-treating detainees, particularly political prisoners. Additionally, the sanctions extend to influential propagandists and members of the judiciary engaged in prosecuting and sentencing opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.
Notably, the sanctions also address state-owned enterprises that have dismissed employees for participating in peaceful protests. One such entity is Belneftekhim, a state-controlled oil and chemicals conglomerate, which has been listed as a key supporter of the Lukashenko regime.
In response to Belarus’s ongoing involvement in the Russian conflict, the EU has introduced sectoral sanctions, including an export ban on goods and technology used in aviation and the space industry, like aircraft engines and drones. The ban also encompasses firearms, ammunition, semiconductor devices, electronic integrated circuits, photographic cameras, optical components, and dual-use goods and technology, aimed at curtailing Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine.
Poland has emerged as a leading advocate for imposing more sanctions on Belarus within the EU. This support comes as a response to the widespread persecution targeting the Polish minority in Belarus and Lukashenko’s attempts to destabilize Poland and the EU. Lukashenko’s actions include inviting large numbers of Middle Eastern and African migrants to Belarus under the false promise of easy access to the EU, only to coerce them into crossing the border into Poland.