On 18 May 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus.

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.

On 2 October 2020, the Council adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/13872 which designated 40 persons 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.

On 6 November 2020, in view of the gravity of the situation in Belarus, the Council adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/16483, which designated Alexandr Lukashenko and 14 other persons, among them persons from his close circle.

On 19 November 2020, the Council agreed to proceed with the preparation of a further round of sanctions, as a response to the brutality of the Belarusian authorities and in support of the democratic rights of the Belarusian people.

In view of the ongoing repression of civil society in Belarus, 29 persons and 7 entities 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.

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly,