By Dzianis Melyantsou
Last week, the EU approved the third batch of sanctions against the Belarusian regime, including individuals and entities. Sanctions are unlikely to prompt changes in domestic policies but will deepen the crisis in political relations between Minsk and Brussels.
On December 17, the EU Council decided to add 29 individuals and seven entities to the sanctions list. Entities include the Belarusian Presidential Administration, Beltechexport CJSC, Dana Holdings / Dana Astra, Sinezis LLC, Agat OJSC, “140 Repair Plant” OJSC, and the “Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant” (MZKT) OJSC. Two businessmen, Alexander Shakutin and Nikolai Vorobei, who, according to the EU, sponsor the Lukashenka's regime, were also included in the list.