New round of EU sanctions may include energy, tech – Bloomberg

January 27, BPN. The European Union’s new round of sanctions against Belarus “would align Minsk to many of the sanction packages the EU has previously imposed on Russia,” Bloomberg reported on January 26, quoting unspecified documents.

The suggested measures include “export bans on dual-use goods and technologies used for military purposes and that could enhance the nation’s industrial capacity,” it said.

The EU would also target oil, coal and steel products, as well as gold, luxury goods and investments. Aviation and energy sectors are also to be hit.

“The legislation would also allow the EU to target anyone helping circumvent sanctions imposed on Belarusian individuals and entities,” Bloomberg added.

Over the past few years, democratic nations have imposed multiple restrictions on Belarus over human rights violations. Sanctions have been imposed for alleged vote rigging in the 2020 presidential election, a brutal crackdown on protesters, the forced landing of a Ryanair flight, a migration crisis on the EU border, and support of Russia’s war in Ukraine.