US Renewed Sanctions against Nine Belarusian Companies

Sanctions are imposed by Washington because of "the blatant disregard of human rights by the Belarusian authorities", suppression of protests and hundreds of political prisoners in the country. The United States renews sanctions against nine Belarusian state-owned enterprises, which were suspended in 2015. This reported by the State Department and the US Treasury Department on their websites on Monday, April 19. The decision was made due to "the blatant disregard of human rights by the Belarusian authorities and the failure of Belarus to fulfill its international obligations in this area," the State Department said in a statement. The document also notes that "as a result of protests suppression that were caused by presidential elections falsification in August 2020 by the Belarusian authorities, there are more than 340 political prisoners in the country." Therefore, the US administration decided that “further extension (of sanctions suspension. - Ed.) Would be incompatible with the Belarus Democracy Act and with American values,” it reads further. According to the US Treasury Department, sanctions are being restored against the companies Belarusian Oil Trading House, Belneftekhim, Belneftekhim USA, Belshina, Grodno Azot, Grodno Khimvolokno, Lakokraska, Naftan, Polotsk Fiberglass". The cooperation of American citizens and companies with these enterprises should end after 45 days, by June 3, 2021. Any transactions with them, as well as with companies in which these enterprises have a share of 50 percent or more, are prohibited. In 2015, the US Treasury Department suspended sanctions against these nine companies and issued a license to cooperate with them, which was annually renewed. In Belarus, since August 9, 2020, on go protests against the results of the presidential elections, when Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994 was announced the winner of. The opposition considers election results to be falsified. The protesters demand Lukashenko’s resignation, political prisoners releasing and new elections holding. Recently, protest actions have been local in nature. In March alone, more than 1,100 protesters were detained in Belarus.