EU Sanctions 28 Belarusian Officials for Repression and Human Rights Violations

The European Union has announced the addition of 28 more individuals to its sanctions list, citing their involvement in ongoing internal repression and human rights violations in Belarus. These new measures include asset freezes and travel bans, reinforcing the EU’s stance against the Alexander Lukashenko regime’s repression of civil liberties.

Among those targeted are two deputy heads of the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (HUBAZiK) within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a key agency responsible for the political persecution in Belarus. HUBAZiK has been implicated in unlawful arrests, torture, and the mistreatment of activists and civil society members.

The sanctions also extend to several members of the judiciary, including prosecutors and judges who have issued politically motivated sentences. These sentences have been handed down to citizens who protested the fraudulent presidential elections of 2020 or who simply expressed opposition to the Lukashenko regime. Additionally, heads of various correctional institutions, including prisons and pre-trial detention centers, have also been included in the sanctions list.

Longtime supporters of Lukashenko, who have benefited from the regime, are also being targeted. This group includes Iryna Akulovich, Director-General of the Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA); Mikita Rachylouski, host of the “Senate” television program and chairman of the Youth Council at the National Assembly of Belarus; and Dzmitry Zhuk, former head of Lukashenka’s press service and longtime Director-General of BelTA. These individuals have been accused of disseminating disinformation and promoting hatred towards the democratic opposition and civil society.

With this latest round of sanctions, the EU’s restrictive measures now apply to a total of 261 individuals and 37 entities connected to the Belarusian regime. The sanctions coincide with the upcoming fourth anniversary of the disputed August 2020 presidential elections in Belarus.

In a statement, the EU reiterated its deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, condemning the ongoing persecution and intimidation of Belarusian society by the regime. The EU called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and the abolition of the death penalty in Belarus. It also condemned the extreme repression and restrictions on political participation ahead of the parliamentary and local elections held on 25 February 2024.

Lukashenko, who led Belarus into a close alliance with Russia during the full-scale war against Ukraine, announced his intention to run for president again in 2025. The authoritarian leader has been in power since 1994.