Belarus continues to export potash to the European Union through a complex network involving a murky Cypriot company running a Brussels-based subsidiary, which obscures the origin of the shipments to circumvent EU sanctions. The EU placed potash under sanctions to cut Belarus’ revenue streams supporting the regime and its alliance with Russia. Despite this, investigations show the Cypriot firm facilitating trade with European buyers hiding Belarusian origin, undermining EU sanctions effectiveness. The export sustained revenue for Belarusian state-linked enterprises, complicating EU sanction enforcement. Analysts warn the scheme illustrates how Belarus leverages third-party commercial entities in Cyprus and Belgium to maintain critical export flows, posing ongoing challenges to EU sanction regimes. Calls for more rigorous monitoring and stronger legal frameworks to prevent such sanction evasions are highlighted.
Category: Economic & Financial Pressure
Subcategory: Sanctions Evasion & Smuggling
Incident Type: Sanctions busting networks
Country: Belgium
Source report: www.occrp.org/en/invest…
