Lukashenka and his sons stay blacklisted by EU

The list of Belarusian officials who are restricted from entering the European Union is to remain the same.

“The Council intends to maintain the restrictive measures against the abovementioned person with a new statement of reasons,” a notice on the website of the Official Journal of the European Union reads.

According to the notice, Yury Zhadobin may submit a request to the Council to obtain the intended statement of reasons for his designation, Interfax reports.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his sons are to stay blacklisted as well, despite the fact that the Belarusian dictator expects invitation to Riga summit of the Eastern Partnership.

In November 2014, Lukashenka relieved Lieutenant General Zhadobin of the post of the minister of defence.

Zhadobin became the head of the Ministry of Defence in December 2009. He had worked as the state secretary of the Security Council before. He had headed the State Security Committee since July 2007 and Lukashenka's security service since September 2003.