The European Council today decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional 28 individuals for their role in the ongoing internal repression and human rights violations in Belarus, Ednews informs, citing the council.

Restrictive measures were imposed on two deputy heads of the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption (HUBAZiK) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. HUBAZiK is one of the main bodies responsible for political persecution in Belarus, including arbitrary and unlawful arrests and ill-treatment, including torture, of activists and members of civil society.

Today’s listings also include various members of the judiciary, namely prosecutors and numerous judges who have issued politically motivated sentences, including against citizens who protested the fraudulent presidential elections of 2020, or who simply voiced their opinions against the Lukashenko regime.

Furthermore, restrictive measures are also imposed on the heads of various correctional institutions (prisons and a pre-trial detention center).

Lastly, a group of long-time supporters of Lukashenko, who benefitted from the regime are also targeted. These include the director-general of the biggest State news agency, Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA), Iryna Akulovich; the host of the “Senate” television program on the STV (СТВ) channel and chairman of the Youth Council at the National Assembly of Belarus, Mikita Rachylouski; and the previous head of Lukashenko’s press service and a long-time director general of BelTA, Dzmitry Zhuk.

These regime propagandists willingly provided the Belarusian public with false information about repression perpetrated by the State authorities, spread disinformation produced by both Belarusian and Russian authorities and promoted hatred towards democratic opposition and civil society.

Altogether, EU restrictive measures against Belarus now apply to 261 individuals and 37 entities. Those designated today are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories.