On December 16, the Council of the European Union, via Decision 2024/3177, updated the list of individuals subject to restrictive measures. The updated sanctions list includes 26 individuals and 2 entities. In addition to Aleksey Shvakov, the document names Belarusian judges, prison administration officials, executives of Belaruskali, VLATE Logistics LLC, and others.
The justification for including the chairman of the BRBA in the sanctions list reads as follows:
"As chairman of the Belarusian Republican Bar Association, Aleksey Shvakov directed and shaped the Association’s policy to systematically repress attorneys representing clients in politically motivated cases or opposing abuses by the Lukashenko regime. In his previous role as chairman of the Minsk City Bar Association, he also participated in the persecution of attorneys handling politically motivated cases. Consequently, he is responsible for the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition, as well as actions undermining the rule of law in Belarus."
The justification for including the chairman of the BRBA in the sanctions list reads as follows:
"As chairman of the Belarusian Republican Bar Association, Aleksey Shvakov directed and shaped the Association’s policy to systematically repress attorneys representing clients in politically motivated cases or opposing abuses by the Lukashenko regime. In his previous role as chairman of the Minsk City Bar Association, he also participated in the persecution of attorneys handling politically motivated cases. Consequently, he is responsible for the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition, as well as actions undermining the rule of law in Belarus."
