US prolong suspension of sanctions against Belarusian enterprises

The United States has prolonged the suspension of sanctions imposed on 9 Belarusian enterprises (Belneftekhm, Belneftekhim USA, Inc., Belarusian Oil Trade House, Grodno Khimvolokno OAO, Naftan OAO, Polotsk Steklovolokno OAO, Lakokraska OAO, Grodno Azot OAO and Belshina OAO). The decision has been made by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. It will come into force on October 25, 2018.

The sanctions were ontroduced against the Belarusian enterprises after the 2006 presidential election. The election was not recognized free and fair. It was a reaction to the dispersal of the Square protesters in Minsk and to the mass detentions of the protest action participants. The United States abolished some of the sanctions after a group of Belarusian political prisoners had been released in the autumn of 2015. The US keeps abolishing some of the sanctions regularly. The last time it happed was in April 2018.