July 19, Pozirk. The European Union’s 18th package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, approved yesterday, features an arms imports ban, control over exports and restrictions on financial transactions, according to a document published by the Council of the EU.
A separate document describes new sanctions on Belarus, citing the country’s “continued involvement in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine” and “the gravity of the situation.”
The list of sanctioned Belarusian companies was expanded to include Biełzniešpramservis, known for exporting high-tech military products; the OKB TSP weapon manufacturer, KB Unmanned Helicopters, the Lehmaš metalworking plant, Laser Devices and Technologies, the LEMT center, manufacturing optical sights and systems for conventional weapons; JSC Vistan specializing in dual-use goods as well as Ruchservamator LLC producing precision coordinate systems.
The new sanctions package also bans exports of goods that could help Belarus expand its military and technological capabilities. These include chemical precursors for energy materials, spare parts for machine tools, additional computer numerical control (CNC) machines and chemical components for fuels.
Banned exports also reportedly include machinery, chemicals, some metals and plastics, covering items labeled for civilian use or transit, if they could contribute to Belarus’ industrial enhancement.
Brussels also expanded a transaction ban on the previously sanctioned Biełahraprambank, Dabrabyt, Biełinvestbank and the Belarusian Development Bank.
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.
