At the NAM's proposal, the EU introduced sanctions against the Lukashenko regime for the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus and support for Russian aggression against Ukraine. According to the rationale, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM) is one of the main entities involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children from illegally occupied territories of Ukraine to Belarus.
The BRSM engages in the re-education, political, and ideological indoctrination of children. It also coordinates practical aspects, such as the placement of children within Belarus. Therefore, the BRSM financially supports actions that undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.
The head of the BRSM, Alexander Lukyanov, is also included in the EU's 14th sanctions package against Russia. Additionally, Dmitri Mezentsev, Secretary of the so-called Union State of Russia and Belarus, was placed under EU sanctions for the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus.
By imposing sanctions for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children, the EU is again acknowledging the violation of Ukrainian legislation and administrative procedures for the transfer of Ukrainian children. This, in turn, constitutes a violation of international law and underscores the importance of the NAM's work to hold Lukashenko accountable.
Also subject to sanctions were the Belarusian military-industrial complex entity OJSC Belarusian Optical-Mechanical Association (BelOMO) and its director, Alexander Moroz. BelOMO supplies components for Russian army weapons used in the aggression against Ukraine.
At the NAM's proposal, the EU also introduced sanctions against the Bank of Russia Financial Messaging System (SPFS). Along with the justification for sanctions on Belarusian military-industrial complex enterprises and other proposals, including those concerning personal restrictions, Pavel Latushka submitted proposals to David O'Sullivan, EU Sanctions Envoy, on December 11, 2023, to impose sanctions on SPFS. These proposals included a justification and a description of SPFS's role in circumventing previously imposed restrictions.
Our work investigating the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children, as well as other sanctions proposals, is reflected in the new sanctions package against Russia. We will continue our efforts to apply sanctions pressure and hold violators of international law accountable. Pavel Latushka is scheduled to meet with David O'Sullivan, EU Special Representative for Sanctions Policy, in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss further steps to increase sanctions pressure on the Lukashenko regime.