The Great Britain extended sanctions against Belarus: what has changed?

On June 9, 2023, new UK sanctions restrictions on Belarus set by The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (hereinafter Regulation 2023) came into force.

Regulation 2023 imposes the following restrictions:

1. A ban on imports into the UK from Belarus:

gold and gold jewelry that are exported from Belarus after June 9, 2023 (inclusive);
cement;
wood;
rubber.

2. Under the blocking measures of exports from Great Britain to Belarus fell:

banknotes*;
goods, technologies and materials that can be used for the production of chemical and biological weapons.

For the purposes of Regulation 2023, banknotes means:

(a) sterling denominated banknotes issued by the Bank of England and banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and

(b) banknotes denominated in any official currency of the European Union

Exceptions for banknotes

delivery (export, transfer) is required for personal use by individuals traveling to Belarus or their immediate family members traveling with them*;
delivery (export, transfer) is required for official purposes of diplomatic missions, consular offices or international organizations in Belarus enjoying immunity under international law;
if the person exporting them did not know and had no reasonable grounds to suspect that the banknotes would eventually be exported, delivered, delivered or provided to a person associated with Belarus or for use in Belarus.

Such an exemption applies only to banknotes of up to £10,000 or its equivalent in any official currency of the European Union.

3. Companies operating in social networks, Internet service providers of Great Britain limit access of substation Belarusian media to their services (Internet access services, Internet services)*.

Internet access service means a service that provides access to virtually all (or just some) of the end points of the internet.

Internet service” means a service that is made available by means of the internet.

4. The criterion for including individuals on the UK sanctions block list was expanded: the meaning of the terms «associated with» and «immediate family member» was clarified for this purpose.

In accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus, restrictive measures (sanctions) of third countries have no legal force in the territory of Belarus. The information may be useful when assessing arguments of foreign partners on the presence/absence of restrictions on their side.

For reference

Great Britain’s sanctions, by analogy with the sanctions regime imposed by the European Union, are obligatory for all persons/entities in the territory of Great Britain, including maritime belt.

The sanctions are obligatory for, regardless location:

British citizens;
citizens of British overseas territories (Bermudas, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, etc.);
British subjects;
companies registered or incorporated in Great Britain.

If you still have questions, REVERA Belarus lawyers will be able to advise you.

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The Great Britain extended sanctions against Belarus: what has changed?

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