EU blacklist to be extended further until political prisoners are released

The EU foreign ministers extended sanctions against 29 Belarusian companies and 12 individuals.

Reuters learned this from an EU diplomat.

Sanctions take force on Saturday, when names of the people subject to sanctions will be published.

Only two businessmen – Anatoly Tarnavsky and Yury Chizh – were put on the blacklist, Radio Svaboda informs. The list of companies includes Tarnavsky's Univest and the firms belonging to Chizh and Peftiev. Chizh's company cooperating with Slovenia and three companies having business contacts with Latvia were not put on the blacklist.

“We express our solidarity with Belarusian society and do not approve the actions by the official authorities,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview to PAP news agency. “The human rights situation in Belarus is deteriorating. Some political prisoners are on the verge of death. This cannot be left unanswered,” the minister added.

The Council conclusions on Belarus read:

“As the political prisoners have not been released and rehabilitated, and against the background of the further deterioration of the situation, the Council decided to designate additional persons responsible for serious violations of human rights or the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, to the list of those subject to travel restrictions and assets freezes. The Council also decided to designate further businessmen and companies benefitting from or supporting the regime and will agree further such designations at upcoming Council meetings if all Belarusian political prisoners are not released. The EU ́s restrictive measures remain open and under constant review.

The Council again urges Belarus to respect internationally recognised diplomatic immunities and privileges of EU diplomatic representations and their personnel in Minsk and to stop the ongoing harassment and intimidation.

In the context of the upcoming 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship, the EU will keep International and National Ice Hockey Federations informed about its deep concerns as regards the lack of respect by Belarus for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles.

The EU reiterates its firm commitment to strengthening its engagement with the Belarusian people and civil society and to supporting the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people. The Council welcomes that the EU is now launching a “European dialogue on modernisation” with the Belarusian society on necessary reforms for the modernisation of Belarus and on the related potential development of relations with the EU, as well as possible EU support in this regard.”