EU publishes updated blacklist of Belarusian individuals, entities

According to the EU Official Journal, the Council lifted its travel bans and asset freezes from 13 individuals: military prosecutor Alyaksandr Dranitsa; transport prosecutor Anatol Dudkin; Volha Komar, a former judge of the Frunzenski District Court in Minsk; Mikalay Trubnikaw, a former judge of the Partyzanski District Court; former prosecutor Mikalay Kulik; former Deputy Prosecutor General Mikalay Kupryyanaw; Uladzimir Kurlovich, a former chairman of the Minsk regional election commission; Leanid Luchyna, a former chairman of the Hrodna regional election commission; Mikalay Myatselitsa, a former chairman of the Mahilyow regional election commission; Uladzimir Mikhasyow, a former chairman of the Homyel regional election commission; Nadzeya Reutskaya, a judge of the Maskowski District Court in Minsk; former Information Minister Uladzimir Rusakevich; and Yawhen Sminow, a former first deputy chairman of the Supreme Economic Court.

Five companies controlled by Uladzimir Peftsiyew, who was blacklisted by the EU earlier, will no longer be subject to asset freezes. They include Dzelavaya Setka, Investment and Innovation Systems, Sen-Ko, BT Invest, and Tekhnasayuzprybor.

Alyaksandr Kakunin, chief of Babruysk Correctional Institution No. 2, and Yury Trutko, deputy chief of Babruysk Correctional Institution No. 2, have been added to the list.

The EU's restrictive measures against the Belarusian citizens and economic entities earlier placed on the blacklist were prolonged until October 31, 2014.

The press office of the Council of the EU explained in a statement that the measures had been extended "because not all political prisoners have been released, no released prisoner has been rehabilitated, and the respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles has not improved in Belarus."

"The EU maintains its policy of critical engagement with Belarus, intended to promote respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles in that country," the statement said.

A total of 232 individuals, including Alyaksandr Lukashenka, are currently subject to travel bans and all of them plus 25 entities are subject to asset freezes.

Maira Mora, head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, said Monday at an international conference in Vilnius that the EU was expected to lift its sanctions against 13 citizens of Belarus and five Belarusian companies.

The Council has concluded that there is no longer any reason for those individuals and companies to be on the EU's blacklist, Ms. Mora said.