Sanctions affect 25 percent of Belarus’ economy – researcher

December 24, Pozirk. About a quarter of Belarus’ economy is directly affected by sanctions, yet their indirect influence is felt in all economic sectors, said Natalla Hančaryk, an expert affiliated with the economy ministry’s research center.
About half of 1,499 sectoral and personal sanctions against Belarus were introduced after the start of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022, reads her article run in the December issue of the Belarus-based Finance, Accounting, Audit journal.
A total of 261 individuals and 37 companies are currently under sanctions, which target major industries and leading economic entities, the researcher noted. Other affected sectors reportedly include wholesale trade and goods transportation.
Sanctions disrupted about 70 percent of Belarusian exports to the European Union, she said, noting that Minsk was forced to offset restrictions by exploring new markets and trying out different delivery routes for potash fertilizers, oil and wood exports.
Belarus ranks fifth in the world by the number of sanctions after Russia, Iran, Syria, and North Korea, Hančaryk added, citing international sources. Myanmar and Venezuela conclude the list.
Over the past few years, democratic countries have imposed multiple restrictions on Belarus over human rights abuses, alleged vote rigging in the 2020 presidential election, a brutal crackdown on protesters, the forced landing of a Ryanair flight, a migration crisis at the EU border, as well as support of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Switzerland joins new EU sanctions on Belarus
- SocietyBelarus arrests French man on suspicion of hashish smugglingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus’ police arrest Catholic priest, evangelical pastorThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Belarus to build nuclear disposal site in Mahiloŭ region, Astraviec district or radiation-contaminated areaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsBelarus, Russia postpone common oil market until 2027The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRussian-Ukrainian war to determine Belarus’ future - SikorskiThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus’ foreign minister hushes up Russia’s defense spending hike in his speech at museumThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SecurityBelarus, Qatar discuss training exchangesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyPolice claim to have exposed provocateurs over viral videoThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsOpposition leader to visit US on May 1 – 7The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOfficial: 44 criminal cases filed in 2024 for donations to banned initiatives, mediaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsVilnius: Minsk, Moscow plot attacks on exiled Belarusians in LithuaniaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian PM postpones trip to Russia's Tatarstan for security reasonsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus posts 249 record temperatures since mid-AprilThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy
- EconomyJob openings soar under Łukašenka's 30-year rule as labor shortages deepenThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: economic think tank’s website branded extremist contentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBelarusian ambassador to Israel announces resumption of direct flightsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyVatican's polite rhetoric on Belarus might disguise tension – expertThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyParents in Asipovičy suspected of causing baby’s death by negligenceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Society
- SocietyPoland: three Belarusians arrested in crackdown on illicit cigarettes producersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyAlmost one million Belarusians live in areas contaminated after Chernobyl disaster – officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsRights groups declare 10 new political prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus had “no choice” but to adopt Russian nuclear safety regulations - officialThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Society