The United States again extended the suspension of sanctions against Belarusian enterprises

The United States of America once again extended the suspension of sanctions against nine Belarusian enterprises for six months. The announcement was made on April 27 by the US Treasury Department .

“The US Department of the Treasury, in consultation with and in coordination with the US State Department, is extending the authorization to conduct transactions with Belarusian enterprises subject to sanctions under US Presidential Executive Order No. 13405. This authorization does not release the blocked property of these enterprises,” the Treasury Department said in a release. The decision will be valid until October 30, 2018.

Sanctions against a number of Belarusian enterprises were introduced by President George W. Bush on June 16, 2006 in connection with the violation of human rights in Belarus and have been periodically extended since then. The sanctions list includes the Belarusian Oil Trading House, Belneftekhim Concern, Belneftekhim usa Inc., Belshina OJSC, Grodno Azot OJSC, Grodno Khimvolokno OJSC, Lakokraska OJSC, Naftan OJSC and Polotsk- Fiberglass".

On October 29, 2015, the US Treasury decided to partially ease sanctions for six months (until April 30, 2016), allowing transactions. At the same time, if the transaction amount exceeds $10,000, US citizens are required to notify the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the State Department. This decision is renewed every six months.

The suspension of US sanctions became possible after the release of political prisoners in 2015, the peaceful elections in October of that year, and the passage of the first opposition deputies to parliament in 12 years in 2016.