Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey and business tycoon Yury Chyzh, who are both on the European Union`s blacklist, have been included in an advisory council under the prime minister that will seek to increase Belarus` exports and develop its foreign distribution network.
The 27-member council was established by an October 26 directive of the Council of Ministers.
The council includes Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich, First Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Syamashka, Barys Batura, head of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee, the economy, trade, agriculture, construction and transport ministers, and representatives of the State Defense Industry Committee and the State Committee on Science and Technologies.
Five businessmen became members of the council, including Mr. Chyzh, head of the Triple conglomerate; Alyaksandr Mashenski, who owns fish-packing plant Santa Bremor and dairy plant Savushkin Pradukt; Viktar Shumila, director general of Atlant, a company that manufactures refrigerators, washing machines and other appliances; Mikhail Kryshtapovich, director general of Haradzeya Sugar Refinery; and Mikalay Havarko, deputy director general of garment company Bonetti.
The European Union imposed a travel ban and an asset freeze on Mr. Makey in January 2011 for his role in "the violations of international electoral standards" in the December 2010 presidential election and a post-election crackdown on government opponents. Mr. Makey was transferred to the position of foreign minister this past August.
Mr. Chyzh was blacklisted in March 2012 for allegedly financing Alyaksandr Lukashenka`s regime through the Triple conglomerate.
