A source: EU to extend sanctions against Belarusian dictatorship

Foreign ministers of 27 EU members states are expected to approve extending the “blacklist” of Belarusian officials and entities.

The decision is expected to be taken at a sitting in Brussels on February 27, RIA Novosti learned from a diplomatic source in the EU.

“The restrictive measures are supposed to affect new officials and entities,” the source told the news agency.

The Council of the European Union adopted a regulation in February paving the way for introducing additional sanctions against Belarusian individuals and entities who, in the EU's opinion, are involved in human rights violations in the country.

“The adopted amendments expand the criteria for application of restrictive measures and the freezing of assets of persons responsible for serious violations of human rights, or the repression of civil society and democratic opposition, or support of the Lukashenka regime, thus, receiving benefits,” The EU Council regulation said.

According to the information obtained by RIA Novosti from diplomatic sources, the EU plans to add 135 civil servants to the list of Belarusian officials subject to entry ban to the EU and assets freeze.

As for the number of companies to be put on the blacklist, there will be “a few of them”, the source from the EU council says.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council approved expanding restrictions on Belarus in December 2011. Over 200 Belarusian officials were banned from entering the EU countries and assets of a number of Belarusian companies were frozen in the EU.