February 24, Pozirk. The European Union has adopted the 16th package of sanctions punishing Russia for invading Ukraine on this day three years ago, the Council of the EU has said in a press release.
New restrictions also affect Russia’s ally Belarus, mirroring “the trade-related sanctions agreed against the Russian Federation,” it noted. In particular, the new sanctions package limits the sale or provision of services and software, deposits and crypto-asset wallets and transport services.
The EU also updated criteria for punishing persons, entities or bodies supporting or benefiting from the Belarusian military and industrial sectors.
New sanctions target 48 persons and 35 entities that the EU considers responsible for undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. It will be clear whether any Belarusian individuals or companies were listed as soon as the official document is published.
The EU started introducing sanctions against Belarus in 2020, two years before Russia’s war on Ukraine, accusing its government of vote rigging and human rights abuses.
The Belarusian defense sector was targeted later for supplying arms to Russia and circumventing Western sanctions.
However, sanctions against Minsk have been reportedly weaker than those against Moscow, allowing Belarus to become a way station for sanctioned goods to reach Russia.
