Washington says that fresh economic sanctions are not directed at people of Belarus

The United States' fresh economic sanctions against Belarusian enterprises "are not directed at the people of Belarus," the US Department of State said on August 11.

Earlier that day, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control prohibited US persons from engaging in commercial or financial transactions with oil refinery Naftan in Navapolatsk, the Hrodna Azot manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizers and the Hrodna Khimvalakno manufacturer of nylon and polyester yarns and fibers, both based in the western Belarusian city, as well as Babruysk-based Belshyna, one of Europe’s largest tire manufacturers. Any assets that the companies may have under US jurisdiction are to be frozen.

"These four entities have been determined to be owned or controlled by the Belneftekhim conglomerate, an entity already designated under Executive Order 13405," the Department of State said.

"The intent to levy additional sanctions was announced by President Obama on May 27 to respond to the continued incarceration of political prisoners and crackdown on political activists, journalists and civil society representatives. The new sanctions augment the travel restrictions, asset freezes and sanctions announced on January 31. These measures target those responsible for the repression in Belarus following the December 19 presidential elections."

The State Department warned that "the United States, in concert with our European partners, will continue to monitor developments in Belarus and to take measures to hold accountable those responsible for the repression of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law."

"An integral component of US policy has been to increase support for the people of Belarus as they seek to build a modern, democratic and prosperous society. We reiterate our call on the Government of Belarus to release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners," the statement said.

The four companies were added to the blacklist pursuant to an executive order that targets “individuals or entities that are responsible for undermining, or have participated in actions that undermine, democratic processes or institutions in Belarus; that are responsible for, or have participated in, human rights abuses related to political oppression in Belarus, or that are senior officials, and others who are responsible for or have engaged in public corruption related to Belarus.”

In November 2007, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Belnaftakhim over alleged human rights violations by the Belarusian government. It added Belnaftakhim to its list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, which led to freezing any assets found in the USA that belonged to Belnaftakhim and barring US citizens from doing business with Belnaftakhim and its subsidiaries and offices.

In May 2008, the US Treasury Department designated two companies under the authority of the conglomerate - AAT Lakafarba, a paint and varnish company in Lida, and AAT Polatsk-Shklovalakno, a glass fiber manufacturer in Polatsk – but partially suspended the sanctions in September 2008. It lifted the suspension at the beginning of this year after a brutal crackdown on a post-election protest that was staged in Minsk on December 19, 2010. //BelaPAN