Sanctions Notice - Belarus

Please be advised that the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the UK regulations) have been amended by the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment)Regulations 2023 (the Amending regulations).

The UK regulations are given effect within the Bailiwick under the Sanctions (Implementation of UK Regimes) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) (Brexit) Regulations, 2020 that have been made under the Sanctions (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2018 (the Sanctions Law). The changes made to the UK regulations by the Amending regulations are automatically effective within the Bailiwick.

The Amending regulations are available here: The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Amending regulations prohibit the import of gold, cement, wood and rubber from Belarus, and exports to Belarus of banknotes and machinery, alongside goods, technologies and materials that could be used to produce chemical and biological weapons. They also extend to Belarus certain measures that are already in place under the Russia sanctions regime, including restrictions on media access and measures aimed at circumvention.

MEASURES WHICH SHOULD BE TAKEN

All businesses must familiarise themselves with the new restrictions in the Amending regulations and check whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise have any kind of relationship that might be affected. If so, they must ensure that all necessary measures are in place to prevent them from breaching those restrictions or any other aspects of the UK regulations.

Businesses must report any findings to the Policy & Resources Committee immediately. This information is required by the Policy & Resources Committee in the exercise of its powers under section 15 of the Sanctions Law.

Any information or queries should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line “Belarus Sanctions”.

Where you have identified a connection to a designated person as set out above, please also inform the Guernsey Financial Services Commission via email to [email protected] providing short form information on the nature of the sanction connection and the measures you have taken or intend to take.

Further information on the effect of asset freezes and related issues including licences is available on the States of Guernsey website at http://www.gov.gg/sanctions.