Names of Belarusan citizens, economic entities excluded from the “blacklist” are published

13 pardoned people and 5 entities controlled by Uladzimir Peftsieu have been voiced.13 pardoned people and 5 entities controlled by Uladzimir Peftsieu have been voiced.

The Council of the European Union has published the names of Belarusan citizens and economic entities whose names were included in the EU's blacklist and removed from it on October 29, BelaPAN said.

According to the EU Official Journal, the Council lifted its travel bans and asset freezes from 13 individuals: military prosecutor Aliaksandr Dranitsa; transport prosecutor Anatol Dudkin; Volha Komar, a former judge of the Frunzenski District Court in Minsk; Mikalai Trubnikau, a former judge of the Partyzanski District Court; former prosecutor Mikalai Kulik; former Deputy Prosecutor General Mikalai Kupryianau; Uladzimir Kurlovich, a former chairman of the Minsk regional election commission; Leanid Luchyna, a former chairman of the Hrodna regional election commission; Mikalai Miatselitsa, a former chairman of the Mahilyow regional election commission; Uladzimir Mikhasiou, a former chairman of the Homiel regional election commission; Nadzeia Reutskaia, a judge of the Maskowski District Court in Minsk; former Information Minister Uladzimir Rusakevich; and Yauhen Sminou, a former first deputy chairman of the Supreme Economic Court.

Five companies controlled by Uladzimir Peftsieu, who was blacklisted by the EU earlier, will no longer be subject to asset freezes. They include Dzelavaia Setka, Investment and Innovation Systems, Sen-Ko, BT Invest, and Tekhnasayuzprybor.

Aliaksandr Kakunin, chief of Babruisk Correctional Institution No. 2, and Yury Trutko, deputy chief of Babruisk Correctional Institution No. 2, have been added to the list.

Let us recall that the EU's restrictive measures against the Belarusan citizens and economic entities earlier placed on the blacklist were prolonged until October 31, 2014.

The press office of the Council of the EU explained in a statement that the measures had been extended "because not all political prisoners have been released, no released prisoner has been rehabilitated, and the respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles has not improved in Belarus."

"The EU maintains its policy of critical engagement with Belarus, intended to promote respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles in that country," the statement said.

A total of 232 individuals, including Aliaksandr Lukashenka, are currently subject to travel bans and all of them plus 25 entities are subject to asset freezes.

Maira Mora, head of the EU Delegation to Belarus, said Monday at an international conference in Vilnius that the EU was expected to lift its sanctions against 13 citizens of Belarus and five Belarusan companies.

The Council has concluded that there is no longer any reason for those individuals and companies to be on the EU's blacklist, Ms. Mora said.