On Friday, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) placed two major Belarusian companies on the sanctions list, including truck manufacturers BelAZ and MAZ, as well as a number of Belarusian officials involved in the undermining democracy in their country. In addition, separate sanctions were imposed on the plane used by Alexander Lukashenko, who is in power in Belarus.
“Lukashenka’s authoritarian regime relies on state-owned companies and key officials to generate significant revenue that allows it to carry out repressive actions against the Belarusian people,” said Brian Nelson, Treasury Undersecretary for Counter-Treasury. terrorism and financial intelligence. “We remain committed to holding Lukashenko’s regime accountable for its suppression of democracy and its support for Putin’s war of choice.”
Along with this, in commemoration of Freedom Day – the anniversary of the proclamation of the first Belarusian national state, the Belarusian People’s Republic, founded on March 25, 1918 – the State Department imposed visa restrictions on 14 citizens Belarusians, mostly civil servants involved in undermining democracy in the country.
The Belarusian Automobile Plant (BelAZ), one of the largest manufacturers of heavy vehicles and heavy dump trucks in the world, was included in the sanctions list today. BelAZ employees who participated in strikes and peaceful protests after the rigged presidential elections in Belarus in August 2020 have been threatened with dismissal and intimidated by company management. Lukashenko said the government would always support BelAZ and called it a “Belarusian brand” and “part of national heritage”. Previously, BelAZ was on the sanctions lists of the European Union and Canada. The US Treasury also imposed sanctions on BelAZ director Sergei Nikiforovich.
In addition, sanctions were imposed on the OJSC Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), one of Belarus’ largest automakers and an important source of income for the Lukashenko regime. MAZ employees who participated in strikes and peaceful protests after the 2020 elections were intimidated and then fired by company management. The director of MAZ – Valery Ivankovich – fell under personal sanctions. Previously, similar measures had been taken by the EU and Canada.
OFAC’s sanctions list today included Belarusian Central Election Commission employees involved in falsifying election results in 2020: Igor Vasilyevich Karpenka, Alena Anatolyevna Baldovskaya, Denis Vladimirovich Duk, Alena Konstantinovna Kuntsevich, Alexander Gennadyevich Tkachev , Ekaterina Alexandrovna Fedasenka and Alexander Vladimirovich Yuzhik. Previously, Karpenko was listed in the EU and Canada.
Separate financial sanctions have been imposed on a Boeing 737 EW-001PA belonging to the Belarusian government and used as an aircraft for Alexander Lukashenko. The sole ruler of Belarus has exclusive access to the EW-001PA and other luxury aircraft and uses them for his personal travels. Additionally, Lukashenka used the 001PA aircraft for international travel with his family and people around him.
“Today’s actions further unite the United States with our international partners and allies to ensure that the Lukashenko regime pays the price for mistreating its own citizens and aiding Putin’s regime,” he said. the Treasury said in a statement.
