US Suspends Sanctions Against Belarusian Enterprises For 6 Months

The sanctions against 9 enterprises will be suspended.

The United States extend suspension of sanctions against nine Belarusian companies for six months, said the US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Bridget Brink at a briefing in Minsk on October 18.

Almost immediately after that, the US Treasury Department has also spread a corresponding message on the issue. BelaPAN reports.

“The Department of the Treasury, in consultation and coordination with the Department of State, is authorizing by general license transactions involving certain Belarusian entities blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13405. This license does not generally authorize the release of property blocked pursuant to E.O. 13405,” – the release of the Treasury Department states. This decision expires on April 30, 2017.

The sanctions against a number of Belarusian companies were introduced by the decree of President George W. Bush of June 16, 2006. They were imposed because of the violation of human rights in Belarus and have been periodically extended since then.

The sanctions list includes “Belarusian Oil Trading House”, Concern “Belneftekhim”, Belneftekhim USA Inc., JSC “Belshina”, JSC “Grodno Azot”, JSC “Grodno Khimvolokno”, JSC “Lakokraska”, JSC “Naftan” and JSC “Polotsk-Steklovolokno”.

On October 29, 2015, the US Treasury decided to partially mitigate the sanctions for six months (until April 30, 2016), allowing to carry out the transaction. At that, if the transaction exceeds 10 thousand dollars, US citizens are required to notify the Office of Foreign Funds Control of the Department of State. In April 2016 this decision was extended for another six months.