EU lifted sanctions against Lukashenka – RBC

The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, Photo” RIA Novosti »

The European Union lifted sanctions against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and 169 officials. They will be able to travel to the EU, their assets will be unfrozen. Preserved arms embargo and sanctions against four people

The Council of the European Union foreign ministers on Monday decided to lift the sanctions in force against the president of Belarus and another 169 representatives of nomenclature. Since they lifted the ban on entry into the European Union and financial sanctions on the country. Sanctions were also dropped against three companies. Stayed ban on the supply of arms, sanctions against four people, which the EU suspects of involvement in the disappearance of people, as well as sanctions against the four companies.

The EU took into account the fact that the Belarusian political prisoners were released. In August 2015 Lukashenko has pardoned six people recognized by international organizations, political prisoners, among them was the ex-presidential candidate Nikolai Statkevich.

«We have identified the release of political prisoners as a point, after which we can rebuild our relations. With the process of removal of most of the sanctions now it can happen, “- said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to journalists in Brussels. “Of course, we are not so naive as to believe that Belarus will change one day. We will follow [events]. We can define it today with the words “critical cooperation”, – he said, noting that the emphasis may gradually shift to the second floor (by “Interfax” quote)

For the first time the sanctions against Belarus for human rights violations, and. EU democratic procedures introduced in 1998, when travel restrictions were imposed on 131 Belarusian officials, including President Alexander Lukashenko, reminds agency “Foreign policy.” The sanctions freeze the assets were adopted in 2006. The United States first imposed sanctions against Minsk in 2004.

has been during the lifting of sanctions in the history of relations between Belarus and the EU. They have not acted from 2008 to 2011, but was re-introduced in response to the events that followed the presidential elections in 2010. Then in Minsk hosted the most ambitious in recent years, a protest of dissent with the procedure and the results of the election, all the presidential candidates were arrested and some sentenced to prison.

Ukraine helped

The warming in relations between the EU and Belarus became noticeable on the background of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. Minsk was the venue for the talks between Russia and the EU. In August 2014 Minsk was visited by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton. In February 2015, Minsk hosted meeting of the “Normandy format” in Ukraine as part of the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. At the same time, President Lukashenko has declared its readiness to establish relations with the EU and called on Russia in this respect is not to worry about .

In the autumn has begun easing sanctions against Belarus. In particular, the EU Council issued a decision to suspend the sanctions against the Belarusian legal entities and individuals, including President Lukashenko. Restrictive measures were suspended on companies’ Beltechexport “,” Belteh Holding “,” SPETSPRIBORSERVICE », LLC Triple Metal Trade, JV LLC Triple-Techno, MSSFC Logoysk, Triple-Agro ACC.

The Belarusian politician will try to balance between Russia and Europe, Russia and the West to receive dividends from both sides, as it was in 2008-2010, says the Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich. He points out that the absence of political relations did not prevent the development of economic relations of Belarus with the EU, but now it becomes possible for its greater activation. The EU’s decision could help to improve the image of the Belarusian leadership, although the situation with human rights and democracy in the country remains very difficult, he said. The president of Belarus has repeatedly in conversations with foreign media joked that he was after the Crimean events ceased to be the last dictator of Europe.

Now the authorities of Belarus and Russia are negotiating a loan Minsk $ 2 billion from the Eurasian stabilization and development Fund (EFSR). Discussion of the matrix of economic measures the government of Belarus that the republic should be implemented upon receipt byudzhetozameschayuschego loan of $ 2 billion, continuing, told reporters Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak, Russia.