EU preparing sanctions against Belarus to close loophole for importing luxury cars to Russia - media

LONDON. May 23 (Interfax) - The European Union is preparing new sanctions against Belarus to limit the access of Western goods to the Russian market, The Financial Times said on Thursday, citing sources.

"The EU is preparing to tighten sanctions against Belarus in order to close the loophole that has allowed Moscow to import luxury cars and other Western goods," the FT said.

EU countries are currently discussing the measures according to the draft version of the new sanctions proposal that the FT has seen. The draft version indicates that the goal of the new package of restrictions is mainly "to minimize the risk of circumventing" the existing sanctions.

The FT said that the new sanctions could "prohibit exporting to and via Belarus technologies and goods that could have military purposes".

The FT also indicates that the EU could introduce a ban on importing diamonds from Belarus.