UK Sanctions Against Belarus — Autonomous Regime (2019–present)

The United Kingdom maintains an autonomous sanctions regime against Belarus under the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, administered jointly by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The UK sanctions regime was established as part of the broader process of converting EU sanctions law into UK domestic law following Brexit, and has since developed independently of — though largely in parallel with — the EU framework.

Legal Basis

The primary legal instrument is the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which entered into force on 31 December 2020 (the end of the Brexit transition period). It has been substantially amended on multiple occasions, most significantly by the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

August 2021 — Major Escalation

On 9 August 2021 — the first anniversary of the fraudulent 2020 presidential election — the UK significantly expanded its Belarus sanctions in coordination with the United States and Canada. Key measures included:

• Sectoral export restrictions: ban on technology, software and dual-use goods for military use
• Prohibition on export of tobacco goods to Belarus
• Import ban on petroleum products of Belarusian origin
• Import ban on potassium chloride (potash) from Belarus
• Financial services prohibitions: ban on trading in new securities and providing loans exceeding 90 days to designated Belarusian state entities
• Insurance and reinsurance restrictions
• Aviation ban: Belarusian carriers banned from UK airspace and airports
• Specific ban on providing technical assistance to eight of President Lukashenko's personal aircraft

One individual was added in this round: Mikhail Gutseriev, a Russia-based billionaire businessman with extensive business interests in Belarus and documented financial links to the Lukashenko regime.

December 2021 — Coordinated Package

On 2 December 2021, the UK imposed sanctions on 8 additional individuals and designated OJSC Belaruskali — the state-owned potash producer — bringing total UK designations to 118 individuals and entities.

August 2024 — Fourth Anniversary Package

On 9 August 2024, the fourth anniversary of the fraudulent election, the UK joined the US, EU and Canada in a new coordinated round of designations targeting additional Belarusian officials responsible for ongoing repression and the continued detention of political prisoners.

Scope of the UK Regime

The UK Belarus sanctions regime covers:

• Travel bans and asset freezes for designated individuals and entities
• Trade restrictions on arms, dual-use goods, technology and key export sectors
• Financial sanctions including securities, loan and insurance prohibitions
• Aviation ban on Belarusian carriers

The regime applies to UK persons worldwide and to all persons and entities within UK territory. OFSI publishes a consolidated list of all UK financial sanctions designations, which is updated as new designations are made.