New sanctions for work in Crimea

Creation of production in Crimea will recognize Russian annexation.

Last week the site of the city authorities in Sevastopol reported that on March 29 the delegation of the Republic of Belarus had met with representatives of the government of Sevastopol. During the meeting they discussed a possible arrangement of assembly production of Belarusian enterprises such as Mogilev Plant of Lifts Engineering and holding Gomselmash in the territory of Sevastopol, Radio Svaboda reports.

The information is received from the Crimean sources. Belarusian state media did not report anything about the visit of the Belarusian delegation to Crimea and enterprises’ plans.

Gomselmash did not comment on the situation, but Mogilev Plant of Lifts Engineering confirmed the meeting and negotiations.

But, according to its representative the information on the establishment of production in Crimea "was extra":

"It was decided to establish a working group to assess a legal and economic feasibility of the establishment, but not to organize the assembly production as such - such decisions have not been taken yet," Mogilevliftmash stressed.

Official Kiev considers the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol temporarily occupied Ukraine's territory and prohibits there a commercial activity of foreign enterprises.

Ukrainian political analyst Viktor Kaspruk noted that creation of production of Belarusian enterprises in Crimea would be a violation of Ukrainian laws and de facto the recognition of Belarus of annexation of Crimea.

"I don't know whether Lukashenka will dare to do it. But if he does, then he will violate international sanctions imposed against Crimea according to which other countries have no right to entrepreneurship in the occupied territories. I think that Lukashenka does it under Putin's pressure, or he really wants to earn some extra money on the situation in Crimea, knowing about the entrepreneurial vacuum created there, because democracies have no made such violations", the political analyst says.

Kaspruk notes that it may worsen Ukraine-Belarus relations and sanctions will be imposed against Belarusian companies operating in Crimea. There can be a tough response of Kiev, the analyst believes.

"Usually, we do not identify Belarus with dictator Lukashenka, but in this case, Ukraine will have to take adequate response. Unfortunately, this situation may set a precedent in the Ukrainian-Belarusian relations, which would simply not to occur. I do not understand why Lukashenka has made up his mind to such a step. I repeat: most likely Putin puts pressure on him. But in this case he shows his true face, the face of political Janus, who says different things in different places", the expert cites.

But we cannot exclude that Lukashenka still decides not to work in Crimea.

"It is possible if Ukraine takes a quick and tough response, Lukashenka will have time either to change the situation or freeze the deployment of any joint structures there for a certain period of time. In this case, he will be able to say Putin that we are ready, but technologically or for other reasons, it cannot be realized, so let's divert time to carry out these plans. I think that Lukashenka, who has been successfully maneuvering between the West and Russia for so long, will likely prolong the situation with Crimean-Belarusian relations, and manage to explain in Kiev, that he did that under high pressure of Russia", Kaspruk believes.