European Council formally lifts sanctions against Belarus
The European Council formally lifted sanctions against Belarus on February 25th, citing improvements in the country’s human rights situation.
In particular, asset freezes and travel bans were lifted against 170 individuals, including President Alexander Lukashenko, as well as three Belarusian companies.
EU Foreign Ministers made the decision earlier this month after Lukashenko released several political prisoners in August of 2015. The appropriate legislation was approved on February 25th.
However, the European Council said it would leave sanctions in place for another year against “four people listed in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist”.
The long-standing arms embargo against Minsk will also remain in place.
Many in Europe view this as a positive step that will lead to an improvement in EU-Belarus relations.
As reported by Agence France-Presse, several EU member states had reservations about lifting the sanctions, but most felt it was the right move. Brussels has stated that it will continue to closely monitor the human rights situation in Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko has been in power since 1994, and has been labelled “Europe’s last dictator” by Washington.