The Swiss Federal Council (government) has decided to tighten sanctions against Belarus; in particular, it has introduced measures to control trade in certain goods and restrictions in the financial sector.
“The Federal Council today announces further economic sanctions against Belarus. These include measures to control the trade in certain goods and restrictions in the financial sector. The new measures will come into force on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at 6 pm Swiss time,” the message says.
As noted, the new package of economic sanctions against Belarus follows similar decisions taken by the European Union in June. It is reported that in addition to the existing embargo on the supply of weapons and equipment that can be used for internal repression, the Federal Council imposes sanctions on goods that can be used to monitor or intercept Internet and telephone communications.
“The new sanctions also restrict trade in dual-use goods and technologies, various products made of oil and potassium chloride … as well as goods used for the production or processing of tobacco products,” the government said.
In addition, Switzerland has imposed restrictions on trading in certain financial instruments and the provision of loans and insurance or reinsurance services to the Government of Belarus and other state bodies and institutions. The Federal Council also decided to impose financial sanctions against Belaeronavigation, a Belarusian provider of air navigation services.
Switzerland expressed concern about the steadily deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus and the lack of dialogue between the Government and civil society. The Swiss government also called on Belarus to comply with its international obligations in the field of human rights.
