Belarus Sanctions
BYBelarus is currently subject to 7 active sanctions programs imposed by Global Affairs Canada, European Union Council, Ministry of Finance Japan, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. These measures include asset freeze, trade restrictions, financial restrictions, travel ban, arms embargo and transport. This page lists every program targeting Belarus, the legal bases behind them, and the most recent changes.
Last updated 16 Sept 2026
Programs
7
Authorities
7
Restriction Types
8
Restrictions
Sanctioning Authorities
CANADAGlobal Affairs Canada — 1 program
EUEuropean Union Council — 1 program
JAPANMinistry of Finance Japan — 1 program
OFACOffice of Foreign Assets Control — 1 program
OFSIOffice of Financial Sanctions Implementation — 1 program
SECOState Secretariat for Economic Affairs — 1 programUKForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office — 1 programSanctions Programs
Canada's sanctions against Belarus under the Special Economic Measures Act. Total designated: 320 (231 individuals, 89 entities). Earliest listing: 2020-09-28, latest listing: 2025-01-24.
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The EU has imposed several successive rounds of individual and sectoral sanctions, against those responsible for internal repression and human rights abuses in Belarus, and in the context of Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Council of the EU first adopted targeted restrictive measures against specific Belarusian officials on 24 September 2004, who were reported to be key actors in the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians. Additional listings were introduced following the 2006 and 2011 presidential elections. However, most of the measures were suspended by the Council in 2015 and later lifted, after Belarus released all of the political prisoners and in the context of improving EU-Belarus relations. In light of the fraudulent presidential elections that took place in August 2020 and the brutal crackdown by Belarusian security forces on the peaceful protesters, democratic opposition and journalists, the EU introduced several packages of listings, targeting both natural and legal persons. Following the unlawful forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk in May 2021, the Council subsequently prohibited any aircraft operated by Belarusian air carriers to take off from, land in or overfly the territory of the Union, as well as imposed further targeted economic sanctions including various trade and financial restrictions. In view of the situation at the EU border with Belarus and in order to respond to the instrumentalization of human beings carried out by the Belarus regime for political purposes, the Council broadened the listing criteria on 15 November 2021. In view of the Russian unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine, since March 2022, the Council has adopted further sanctions. These include restrictions related to the trade of potassium chloride ('potash'), wood and cement products as well as iron and steel products . It is also prohibited to export to Belarus dual-use goods and technology, firearms and goods and technology in the aviation, space and defence industry. The Council has also imposed a ban on any Belarusian road transport operators. Furthermore, financial measures imposed by the Council include restrictions on access to Union capital markets in relation to the Belarusian Government as well as Belarusian state-owned financial institutions and entities, a SWIFT ban for four Belarusian banks, putting limits on financial inflows from Belarus to the EU; a prohibition on providing insurance and reinsurance to the Belarusian Government and Belarusian public bodies and agencies, as well as certain prohibitions on the European Investment Bank in relation to projects in the public sector. The close integration of the Russian and Belarusian economies has substantially facilitated the circumvention of existing sanctions. The EU therefore adopted a new set of sanctions against Belarus in June 2024, mirroring several of the measures already imposed on Russia to make EU sanctions more effective. The amendment notably extends the export ban on dual-use and advanced goods and technologies, includes further export and import restrictions, prohibition on provision on services and broadening of the road transport restrictions for Belarusian trailers or semi-trailers. The new package also introduce anti-circumvention measures, such as due diligence mechanisms and the so-called 'no re-export to Belarus clause'. Derogations to the restrictive measures are possible as well as exemptions for humanitarian purposes. Adopted by: EU.
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+3 more
Sanctions targeting Belarus. Total designated: 35 individuals.
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The Belarus Sanctions program targets persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Belarus and those contributing to the situation in Belarus. It imposes blocking sanctions on designated persons and sectoral restrictions on key sectors of the Belarus economy including construction, defense, energy, potash, security, tobacco products, and transportation.
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+24 more
Sanctions regime targeting Belarus. 167 designated entities (135 individuals, 32 entities). Designations sourced from the UK. Earliest designation: 2021-12-02, latest update: 2025-04-09.
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Swiss sanctions targeting Belarus. Total designated: 683 (556 individuals, 127 entities).
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Broad sanctions regime targeting Belarus, including asset freeze, trade restrictions, financial sanctions, transport sanctions, and arms embargo.
Recent Changes
Resources added
Added: 1 statute(s)
Resources added
Added: 2 statute(s), 1 regulation(s), 1 interpretive_guidance(s), 2 federal_register_notice(s)
Restrictions removed
Removed: sectoral, trade_restrictions
Republic of Belarus sanctions renamed
Program renamed from "Republic of Belarus sanctions regime" to "Republic of Belarus sanctions"
Legal basis updated for Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine
Added: Council Implementing Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Council Implementing Decision concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine
Resources added
Added: 4 statute(s)
Resources added
Added: 1 legal_instrument(s)
Restrictions added
Added: sectoral
Republic of Belarus sanctions regime renamed
Program renamed from "Republic of Belarus sanctions" to "Republic of Belarus sanctions regime"
Legal basis updated for Republic of Belarus sanctions regime
Added: The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Removed: Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Resources added
Added: 1 regulation(s), 1 federal_register_notice(s), 1 brochure(s)
Resources added
Added: 1 guidance(s)
Resources added
Added: 1 regulation(s)
Resources added
Added: 2 executive_order(s), 2 statute(s), 15 federal_register_notice(s), 1 brochure(s), 1 faq(s)
Resources added
Added: 1 regulation(s), 15 federal_register_notice(s), 1 faq(s), 1 guidance(s), 1 brochure(s)
Legal basis updated for Republic of Belarus sanctions
Added: Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Removed: The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Resources added
Added: 2 executive_order(s), 2 statute(s), 14 federal_register_notice(s), 1 guidance(s), 1 brochure(s)
Legal basis updated for Republic of Belarus sanctions
Added: The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Removed: Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Restrictions added
Added: arms_embargo
Resources added
Added: 2 executive_order(s), 1 regulation(s), 15 federal_register_notice(s), 1 guidance(s)
Restrictions removed
Removed: arms_embargo
Restrictions removed
Removed: financial_restrictions
Republic of Belarus sanctions renamed
Program renamed from "Republic of Belarus sanctions regime" to "Republic of Belarus sanctions"
Restrictions removed
Removed: comprehensive
Restrictions added
Added: comprehensive
Restrictions added
Added: financial_restrictions
Restrictions removed
Removed: transport
Republic of Belarus sanctions regime renamed
Program renamed from "Republic of Belarus sanctions" to "Republic of Belarus sanctions regime"
Restrictions added
Added: transport
Republic of Belarus sanctions renamed
Program renamed from "Republic of Belarus sanctions regime" to "Republic of Belarus sanctions"
Restrictions removed
Removed: comprehensive
Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine renamed
Program renamed from "EU Restrictive Measures against Belarus" to "Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine"
Restrictions added
Added: arms_embargo, financial_restrictions, transport
Restrictions added
Added: sectoral
Restrictions added
Added: trade_restrictions
Restrictions removed
Removed: trade_restrictions, arms_embargo, sectoral
Restrictions removed
Removed: sectoral
The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 renamed
Program renamed from "UK Republic of Belarus" to "The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019"
Restrictions removed
Removed: trade_restrictions
Restrictions added
Added: sectoral
Republic of Belarus sanctions regime renamed
Program renamed from "Republic of Belarus Sanctions" to "Republic of Belarus sanctions regime"
Restrictions added
Added: comprehensive
Restrictions removed
Removed: sectoral
Restrictions removed
Removed: financial_restrictions
Republic of Belarus Sanctions renamed
Program renamed from "Republic of Belarus sanctions regime" to "Republic of Belarus Sanctions"
Restrictions removed
Removed: arms_embargo, investment_ban, sectoral
Restrictions added
Added: sectoral
New program: The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
New sanctions program detected: The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Restrictions added
Added: arms_embargo, sectoral
Restrictions removed
Removed: sectoral, financial_restrictions, investment_ban