Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/997 of 21 June 2021 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus

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.

(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 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) Given the escalation of the serious human rights violations in Belarus, and the violent repression of civil society, democratic opposition and journalists as well as of persons belonging to national minorities, additional designations of persons and entities should be adopted.

(4) On 24 and 25 May 2021, the European Council adopted conclusions in which it strongly condemned the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk, Belarus, on 23 May 2021 endangering aviation safety, and the detention by Belarusian authorities of journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega. It called on the Council to adopt additional listings of persons and entities as soon as possible on the basis of the relevant sanctions framework.

(5) 78 persons and 7 entities should therefore be added to the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 is hereby amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

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 Luxembourg, 21 June 2021.

For the Council The President J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1) OJ L 134, 20.5.2006, p. 1.