The Official Journal of the European Union has published the legal acts approving the 21st package of sanctions. The package includes several Belarusian legal entities.
Among those added to the sanctions list is OJSC Mazyr Oil Refinery. Until now, only one of Belarus’s two oil refineries — Naftan — had been subject to EU restrictions. Also listed is European Trading Company LLC, registered in Smolensk. According to the justification, it is a subsidiary of the Belarusian Oil Company.
Several organisations linked to the defence industry have also been sanctioned, including companies that were previously the subject of investigations by the Belarusian Investigative Center (BIC) and BELPOL:
- Chip i Dip LLC,
- OJSC Ragachou Diaproektor Plant,
- OJSC KB Display,
- CJSC Cabinet Products Plant.
The supply of technologies to these enterprises is prohibited.
The European Union has also expanded restrictions on Belarusian citizens in the cryptocurrency sector. Last year, Belarusian citizens and individuals residing in Belarus were prohibited from directly or indirectly owning or controlling, or serving on the governing bodies of, EU-registered legal entities providing crypto wallet and crypto-asset management services. From Aug. 25, the ban will be extended to organisations providing any other crypto-asset services. As before, exemptions remain in place for citizens of EU member states, the European Economic Area and Switzerland, as well as for persons holding temporary or permanent residence permits in those countries.
The sanctions list also includes the Belarusian cryptocurrency platform White Bird, a resident company of the Hi-Tech Park.
The list of goods prohibited from being supplied to Belarus has been expanded to include certain types of radio equipment, nickel powders, beryllium, servo motors, UAV launch systems, ground support equipment for UAVs and other items.
The list of goods banned from being imported from Belarus has also been expanded. It now includes non-ferrous metal ores and concentrates, tall oil, cullet, certain glass products and glassware, watches, a range of construction materials, as well as motor vehicle bodies and automotive parts.
Exceptions have been made for certain goods. Until Oct. 25, transactions involving tall oil, glass products and automotive parts may be completed under contracts concluded before July 24 of this year. Until the end of this year, Hungary will retain the right to import acyclic saturated hydrocarbons from Belarus.
At the same time, the competent authorities of EU member states have been granted the authority to authorise the sale to Belarus of communications equipment, computers and data storage devices, provided that their use is not related to military purposes and that it is confirmed the products are intended for civilian communications networks in which state ownership does not exceed 50%.
