THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 of 18 May 2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus(1), and in particular Article 8a(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposals from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 18 May 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus.
(2) On 9 August 2020, Belarus conducted presidential elections, which were found to be inconsistent with international standards and marred by the repression of independent candidates and a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in the wake of those elections. On 11 August 2020, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) issued a declaration on behalf of the Union, assessing that the elections were neither free nor fair. It was also stated that measures against those responsible for violence, unjustified arrests and falsification of election results could be taken.
(3) On 2 October 2020, the Council adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1387(2) which designated 40 individuals identified as responsible for repression and intimidation of peaceful demonstrators, opposition members and journalists in the wake of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, as well as for the Central Electoral Commission’s misconduct of the electoral process for those elections.
(4) On 24 September 2020, the High Representative issued a declaration on behalf of the Union, saying that the so-called ‘inauguration’ and the new mandate claimed by Aleksandr LUKASHENKO lack any democratic legitimacy. The statement reiterated the Union’s expectation that the Belarusian authorities immediately refrain from any further repression and violence directed against the Belarusian people and immediately and unconditionally release all those detained, including political prisoners.
(5) In view of the gravity of the situation in Belarus, due to the ongoing repression of civil society and opposition activists, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO and 14 other persons should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006.
(6) Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 is hereby amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 6 November 2020.
For the Council
The President
M. Roth
In Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006, the following persons are added:
| NamesTranscription of Belarusian spellingTranscription of Russian spelling | Names(Belarusian spelling) | Names(Russian spelling) | IdentifyingInformation | Reasons for listing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ‘45. | Aliaksandr Ryhoravich LUKASHENKA Alexandr Grigorievich LUKASHENKO | Аляксандр Рыгоравiч ЛУКАШЭНКА | Александр Григорьевич ЛУКАШЕНКО | President of the Republic of Belarus DOB: 30.8.1954 POB: Kopys settlement, Vitebsk/Viciebsk Oblast, former USSR (now Belarus) Gender: male | As President of Belarus with authority over State bodies, he is responsible for the violent repression by the State apparatus carried out before and after the 2020 presidential election, in particular with the dismissal of key opposition candidates, arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of peaceful demonstrators as well as intimidation and violence against journalists. |
| 46. | Viktar Aliaksandravich LUKASHENKA Viktor Aleksandrovich LUKASHENKO | Вiктар Аляксандравiч ЛУКАШЭНКА | Виктор Александрович ЛУКАШЕНКО | National Security Advisor to the President, Member of the Security Council DOB: 28.11.1975 POB: Mogilev/Mahiliou (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his position as National Security Advisor to the President and a Member of the Security Council, as well as his informal supervisory position over Belarus security forces, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign led by the State apparatus in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, in particular with arbitrary arrests and ill‐treatment, including torture, of peaceful demonstrators as well as intimidation and violence against journalists. |
| 47. | Ihar Piatrovich SERGYAENKA Igor Petrovich SERGEENKO | Iгар Пятровiч СЕРГЯЕНКА | Игорь Петрович СЕРГЕЕНКО | Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration DOB: 14.1.1963 POB: Stolitsa village in Vitebsk/Viciebsk Oblast (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his position as the Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration, he is closely associated with the President and responsible for ensuring the implementation of presidential powers in the field of domestic and foreign policy. He is thus supporting the Lukashenka regime, including in the repression and intimidation campaign led by the State apparatus in the wake of the 2020 presidential election. |
| 48. | Ivan Stanislavavich TERTEL Ivan Stanislavovich TERTEL | Iван Станiслававiч ТЭРТЭЛЬ | Иван Станиславович ТЕРТЕЛЬ | Chairman of KGB, former Chairman of the State Control Committee DOB: 8.9.1966 POB: village Privalki/Privalka in Hrodna/Grodno Oblast (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his leadership position as the Chairman of State Security Committee KGB and in his former position as the Chairman of the State Control Committee, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign led by the State apparatus in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, in particular with arbitrary arrests and ill‐treatment, including torture, of peaceful demonstrators as well as intimidation and violence against journalists. |
| 49. | Raman Ivanavich MELNIK Roman Ivanovich MELNIK | Раман Iванавiч МЕЛЬНIК | Роман Иванович МЕЛЬНИК | Head of Main Directorate of Law and Order Protection and Prevention at the Ministry of Internal Affairs DOB: 29.5.1964 Gender: male | In his leadership position as the Head of Main Directorate of Law and Order Protection and Prevention at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign led by the State apparatus in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, in particular with arbitrary arrests and ill‐treatment, including torture, of peaceful demonstrators as well as intimidation and violence against journalists. |
| 50. | Ivan Danilavich NASKEVICH Ivan Danilovich NOSKEVICH | Iван Данiлавiч НАСКЕВIЧ | Иван Данилович НОСКЕВИЧ | Chairman of the Investigative Committee DOB: 25.3.1970 POB: village of Cierabličy in Brest Oblast (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his leadership position as the Chairman of the Investigative Committee, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign led by the Committee in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, notably with investigations launched against the Coordination Council launched by the opposition to challenge the outcome of that election and peaceful demonstrators. |
| 51. | Aliaksey Aliaksandravich VOLKAU Alexey Aleksandrovich VOLKOV | Аляксей Аляксандравiч ВОЛКАЎ | Алексей Александрович ВОЛКОВ | Former First Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee, currently Chairman of the State Committee for Forensic Expertise DOB: 7.9.1973 POB: Minsk (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his former leadership position as the First Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign led by the Committee in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, notably with investigations launched against the Coordination Council launched by the opposition to challenge the outcome of that election and peaceful demonstrators. |
| 52. | Siarhei Yakaulevich AZEMSHA Sergei Yakovlevich AZEMSHA | Сяргей Якаўлевiч АЗЕМША | Сергей Яковлевич АЗЕМША | Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee DOB: 17.7.1974 POB: Rechitsa, Gomel Oblast (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his leadership position as the Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign led by the Committee in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, notably with investigations launched against the Coordination Council launched by the opposition to challenge the outcome of that election and peaceful demonstrators. |
| 53. | Andrei Fiodaravich SMAL Andrei Fyodorovich SMAL | Андрэй Фёдаравiч СМАЛЬ | Андрей Федорович СМАЛЬ | Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee DOB: 1.8.1973 POB: Brest (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his leadership position as the Deputy Chairman of the Investigative Committee, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign led by the Committee in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, notably with investigations launched against the Coordination Council launched by the opposition to challenge the outcome of that election and peaceful demonstrators. |
| 54. | Andrei Yurevich PAULIUCHENKA Andrei Yurevich PAVLYUCHENKO | Андрэй Юр’евiч ПАЎЛЮЧЕНКА | Андрей Юрьевич ПАВЛЮЧЕНКО | Head of Operational-Analytical Center DOB: 1.8.1971 Gender: male | In his leadership position as the Head of Operational-Analytical Center, he is closely associated with the President and responsible for the repression of civil society, notably with interrupting connection to telecommunication networks as a tool of repression of civil society, peaceful demonstrators and journalists. |
| 55. | Ihar Ivanavich BUZOUSKI Igor Ivanovich BUZOVSKI | Iгар Iванавiч БУЗОЎСКI | Игорь Иванович БУЗОВСКИЙ | Deputy Minister of Information DOB: 10.7.1972 POB: village of Koshelevo, Grodno/Hrodna region (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his leadership position as Deputy Minister of Information, he is responsible for the repression of civil society, notably with the Ministry of Information decision to cut off access to independent websites and limit internet access in Belarus in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, as a tool of repression of civil society, peaceful demonstrators and journalists. |
| 56. | Natallia Mikalaeuna EISMANT Natalia Nikolayevna EISMONT | Наталля Мiкалаеўна ЭЙСМАНТ | Наталья Николаевна ЭЙСМОНТ | Press Secretary of the President of Belarus DOB: 16.2.1984 POB: Minsk (former USSR, now Belarus) Maiden name: Kirsanova (RU: Кирсанова) or Selyun (RU Селюн) Gender: female | In her position as Press Secretary of the President of Belarus, she is closely associated with the President and responsible for coordinating media activities of the President, including drafting statements and organising public appearances. She is thus supporting the Lukashenka regime, including in the repression and intimidation campaign led by the State apparatus in the wake of the 2020 presidential election. In particular, with her public statements defending the President and criticising opposition activists as well as the peaceful protesters, made in the wake of 2020 presidential election, she contributed to seriously undermining democracy and the rule of law in Belarus. |
| 57. | Siarhei Yaugenavich ZUBKOU Sergei Yevgenevich ZUBKOV | Сяргей Яўгенавiч ЗУБКОЎ | Сергей Евгеньевич ЗУБКОВ | ALFA Unit Commander DOB: 21.8.1975 Gender: male | In his commanding position over ALFA Unit forces, he is responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign carried out by these forces in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, in particular with arbitrary arrests and ill‐treatment, including torture, of peaceful demonstrators as well as intimidation and violence against journalists. |
| 58. | Andrei Aliakseevich RAUKOU Andrei Alekseevich RAVKOV | Андрэй Аляксеевiч РАЎКОЎ | Андрей Алексеевич РАВКОВ | Former State Secretary of the Security Council DOB: 25.6.1967 POB: village of Revyaki, Vitebsk/Viciebsk Oblast (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: male | In his former position as State Secretary of the Security Council, he is closely associated with the President and responsible for the repression and intimidation campaign carried out by the State apparatus in the wake of the 2020 presidential election, in particular with arbitrary arrests and ill‐treatment, including torture, of peaceful demonstrators as well as intimidation and violence against journalists. |
| 59. | Pyotr Piatrovich MIKLASHEVICH Petr Petrovich MIKLASHEVICH | Пётр Пятровiч МIКЛАШЭВIЧ | Петр Петрович МИКЛАШЕВИЧ | Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus DOB: 18.10.1954 POB: Minsk Oblast (former USSR, now Belarus) Gender: Male | As the chairman of the Constitutional Court, he is responsible for the Constitutional Court’s decision adopted on 25 August 2020, by which the results of the fraudulent elections were legitimised. He has therefore supported and facilitated actions of repression and intimidation campaign by the State apparatus against peaceful protestors and journalists and is therefore responsible for seriously undermining democracy and the rule of law in Belarus.’. |
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1387 of 2 October 2020 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus (OJ L 319I, 2.10.2020, p. 1).