October 23, Pozirk. The European Union’s 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its war on Ukraine includes Alfa Bank Belarus, Sberbank Belarus and VTB Bank Belarus, according to a document published by the Council of the EU.
Restrictions, prohibiting to engage, directly or indirectly, in any transactions with these entities will enter into force on December 2. The listing also features two Belarusian banks that fell under restrictions in February – BiełVEB Bank and Biełhazprambank.
The new EU sanctions also include the Haryzont holding company and its research facility, as well as CEO Juryj Pradko. Haryzont is developing and manufacturing special and dual-use products, such as video surveillance devices for armored vehicles and cooperates with the defense ministry, the document said, noting Pradko’s links to the Belarusian military-industrial complex.
An earlier report by BelPol resistance group linked Haryzont to a network of Belarusian state-run companies involved in the mass production of projectiles for the Russian army.
Illa Ikan, CEO at Belarusian oil and petrochemical giant Biełnaftachim, is also among the recent additions to the EU sanctions list for benefiting from his links to Alaksandar Lukašenka. The company represents a fundamental asset for the Belarusian economy and foreign policy, especially regarding cooperation between Russia and Belarus, enjoying the support of the Lukašenka regime, the document said.
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.
