Radio Svaboda: EU Drafts Document to Disconnect Belarus from SWIFT and Freeze Assets of All Major Enterprises

A new package of sanctions may be introduced if the regime does not stop the repression.

Late last year, the ambassadors of 16 EU countries and the head of the EU Delegation developed a document outlining four policy options concerning Belarus.

The document will be discussed soon in Brussels, Radio Svaboda reports. It's still unknown which of the following proposed options can be adopted by the leadership of the European Union.

«Wait and see»

This is the option of maintaining the status quo. The EU has already stated that the August 9 presidential election was "neither free nor fair," and Lukashenka "lacks democratic legitimacy." After the repression of the protesters, the EU imposed visa sanctions and an asset freeze on 88 individuals and 7 businesses, including Lukashenka and his son. Three packages of sanctions imposed these measures in late 2020. The document represents the scenario as a "gradual approach to sanctions."

«Pragmatic Arms’ Length Approach»

This option provides for intensive diplomatic influence. It includes such forms as "tacit diplomacy, a senior mission in Minsk or invitation of representatives of official Minsk to neutral territory (for example, Switzerland). It aims to discuss a mediation proposal, agreement to dialogue with the regime and engagement in a special dialogue with OSCE on the situation in Belarus, engagement in high-level dialogue with Russia and the US on increasing external pressure on Minsk, and creation of a special advisory mission of the Eurasian Economic Community or a special EU representative on Belarus.

«Significant deterioration in relations»

The third option provides for a considerable extension of the list of individuals and organizations subject to sanctions, as well as reduction of the level of diplomatic relations to a minimum and "support of criminal and other cases according to the national legislation in the EU member-states against those guilty of torture and inhuman treatment". Besides, this option provides for the establishment of an international tribunal to investigate human rights violations in Belarus based on the OSCE Moscow Mechanism.

«Almost complete freeze of relations»

The severest option involves the termination of diplomatic relations, sanctions regime, which affects some sectors of the Belarusian industry, a ban on the sale of Eurobonds and, possibly, coordination of the sanctions regime against Belarus with the sanctions regime against Russia. The option may also include a moratorium on Belarus' participation in the Eastern Partnership structures and official recognition of the government-in-exile.

The document, prepared by 17 high-ranking European diplomats accredited in Minsk, also notes some steps to be taken by the Belarusian authorities to restore a "meaningful dialogue with the European Union". It is the termination of "any repression and human rights violations, persecution of representatives of independent media and civil society".

The European Union also demands Minsk to release and rehabilitate political prisoners, pay them financial compensation, ensure free and fair elections under OSCE observation, and provide safe conditions for the return of those who are now in political and forced exile.

The heads of diplomatic missions invite Brussels to consider sanctions extension if these key EU demands are not met.

The sanction list includes the regime's top officials, all members of the Security Council, their immediate relatives, heads of regional administrations and presidential assistants in the regions, as well as "rank-and-file perpetrators in the police, KGB, and riot police."

The freezing of companies' assets should include "state enterprises contributing to the financing of the regime, such as oil refining, potash mining and chemical production," financial institutions, Minsk Transit Bank, BelAZ, MTZ, Belkommunmash, MAZ, MZKT, Minsk Electrotechnical Plant.

If the situation deteriorates, the document provides for the sectoral sanctions, including a ban on such companies as MasterCard, VISA and Swift to provide services or supply goods to Belarusian companies engaged in energy and raw materials, as well as all state-owned companies and those companies owned by individuals on the EU sanctions list.