The EU extends embargo on arms exports to Belarus
The Council of the European Union officially extended the sanctions against Belarus for arms sales and exports of goods that could be used for internal repression. It also extended an entry ban to four people.
As stated in the decision published on February 23 on the website of the EU Council, which was adopted the day before, the sanctions were extended for another year, until February 28, 2019.
"These measures include an embargo on the supply of weapons, a ban on the export of means that can be used to carry out punitive measures, as well as assets freezes and travel bans on four persons involved in the case of the disappearance of two opposition politicians, a businessman and a journalist under suspicious circumstances in 1999 and 2000," the EU Council statement says.
However, the EU decided to exclude sports rifles from the list in order to allow for the export of biathlon equipment to Belarus.