Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2113 of 26 July 2024 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine

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 view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine (1), and in particular Article 8a(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal 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 25 January 2024, the Union condemned in the strongest possible terms the wave of repression against former political prisoners remaining in Belarus, as well as relatives of political prisoners. The Union declared that it stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus and will continue to support them on their way to an independent and democratic country.

(3) On 26 February 2024, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) issued a statement after parliamentary and local elections were held in Belarus. The High Representative condemned the unprecedented level of repression, human rights violations, restrictions on political participation and on access to independent media, and underlined that the parliamentary and local officials elected in Belarus lack democratic legitimacy since the conditions for free and fair elections had not been met.

(4) In view of the gravity of the situation in Belarus, 28 individuals should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006.

(5) Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 is amended in accordance with 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 Brussels, 26 July 2024.

For the Council The President BÓKA J.

(1) OJ L 134, 20.5.2006, p. 1.