The Swiss Federal Council has imposed additional restrictive measures against Belarus, joining the European Union sanctions package adopted on 23 April 2026. This was announced by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
The new measures entered into force on 19 September 2026. Earlier, on 22 May, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER/WBF) had already imposed sanctions on two companies within its competence. The Federal Council has now extended the remaining EU restrictions to Switzerland.
The aim is to bring the sanctions regime against Belarus even closer into line with the regime applied to Russia. Bern cites Belarus’s continued support for Moscow in the war against Ukraine.
In particular, the ban on exports of goods that contribute to strengthening Belarus’s military and technological capabilities, as well as goods that strengthen its industrial potential, has been expanded. The list of goods and technologies whose transit through Belarusian territory is prohibited has been supplemented. Additional restrictions have been introduced on imports of products that generate significant revenue for the country.
In the financial sector, transactions involving certain crypto-assets and central bank digital currencies, including the digital Belarusian ruble, have been banned, as have transactions with crypto-service providers and decentralized platforms registered in Belarus.
