US extends sanctions against Lukashenko and a number of Belarusian officials
US President Donald Trump has extended sanctions against a number of Belarusian officials for one more year, the press service of the White House said.
The corresponding document addressed to the US Congress is posted on the White House website.
The document states that, “The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
“For this reason, the national emergency declared on June 16, 2006, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond June 16, 2019,” reads the document.
President George W. Bush implemented the US sanctions against Belarus. In a message sent to the US Congress on June 16, 2006, Bush ordered the financial accounts of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and nine other high-ranking Belarusian officials to be frozen and also banned US citizens from making any deals with them. Sanctions were imposed in response to the presidential elections in Belarus, which were undemocratic according to the US and EU.
Later, in 2007–2008, Washington introduced economic restrictions against the Belneftekhim Concern. In October 2015, the US Treasury Department suspended sanctions against the Belneftekhim concern and eight related petrochemical enterprises.
In April of this year, the United States extended the suspension of sanctions against a number of Belarusian enterprises: Belneftekhim and its subsidiary in the USA (Belneftekhim USA), Belshina, Grodno Azot, Grodno Khimvolokno, Lakokraska, OAO Naftan and Polatsk-Steklovolokno.