The EU has extended the arms embargo against Belarus until February 24, 2021, as well as restrictive measures against four citizens of this country, Reuters reported referring to EU Council.

The measures include an embargo on trade in arms and equipment "that could be used for internal repression" and an asset freeze as well as travel ban against four people the bloc links to "the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist in 1999 and in 2000."

The EU introduced the first visa sanctions against Belarus and its president in connection with human rights violations back in 2002. The restriction package has been revised several times since then, and their action has been frozen three times. However, the EU partially lifted sanctions in February 2016, which were valid for over 13 years. Brussels did not extend the restrictive measures against 170 Belarusian officials, including President Aleksandr Lukashenko, and three companies. However, the embargo on the supply of weapons and police special equipment, as well as visa restrictions against four Belarusian security officials, were upheld for 12 months.