Persons and companies subject to EU new sanctions

The official journal of the European Union has published a list of Belarusian persons and entities subject to sanctions.

The list of persons includes judge Lyudmila Hachova, who sentenced presidential candidates Mikalai Statkevich and Dzmitry Uss as well as participants of the 19 December 2010 demonstration; prosecutors Andrei Kazheunikau and Kiryl Chubkavets, who were involved in politically motivated legal proceedings; Lukashenka’s main economic advisor Vladimir Peftiev.

The entities subject to sanctions are Beltechexport, Sport-Pari, BT Telecommunications private unitary enterprise.

These three companies are controlled by Vladimir Peftiev, the document notes.

Beltechexport is an arms trading firm. The EU imposed embargo on arms export from Belarus, because of the country’s constant contacts with terrorist organizations and rogue states.

Sport Pari was co-founded by the Presidential Sporting Club headed by Dzmitry Lukashenka, Belarusian dictator’s son.

BT Telecommunications company is the main sponsor of the Presidential Sporting Club headed by Dzmitry Lukashenka. The website of the Presidential Sporting Club writes that BT Telecommunications company participates in a number of big investment projects, including those relating to forming high-quality infrastructure for hosting the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship in Belarus.

Peftiev is called Alyaksanr Lukashenka’s private banker. Officially, Peftiev is the head of the Belarusian arms exporting company Beltechexport and the Belarusian Tennis Federation. He is supposed to own a stake in Velcom mobile operator, Priorbank and Vneshekonombank. With a fortune estimated at $1bn, he was named the second richest man in Belarus after Alyaksandr Lukashenka in 2010 by Forbes.