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Washington retains a large volume of leverage tools over the Lukashenko regime

Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo

The US has decided to suspend sanctions against three state-private aircraft belonging to Lukashenko as well as to exclude one personal aircraft of the dictator and the Belavia airline from the sanctions lists.

The lifting of sanctions on Lukashenko's state-private aircraft and Belavia is only an isolated example, and not a significant weakening of sanctions pressure.

Belavia is one of many entities that have fallen under US restrictions. Its exclusion from the sanctions list does not reduce the great potential for pressure at Washington’s disposal.

Almost a hundred Belarusian legal entities and hundreds of individuals are under US sanctions. The US sanctions packages include enterprises from sectors that are key to the regime:

  • Financial sector;

  • Logistics and transport;

  • Mechanical engineering;

  • IT and high technologies;

  • Metallurgy;

  • Woodworking;

  • Oil and gas complex;

  • Civil aviation;

  • Fertilizers;

  • Chemical industry;

  • Cement industry and construction;

  • Tobacco and light industry;

  • Military-industrial complex;

  • State bodies and law enforcement agencies;

  • Sport and public organizations.

Among them are system-forming giants: Naftan, Belneftekhim concern, Grodno Azot, Belaruskali, BelAZ, Belvnesheconombank, Belinvestbank, Slavkali, Belshina, Bank Dabrabyt, Bank Trade Capital, BMZ, MZKT, Minsk Automobile Plant, Amkodor.

These are not just companies; they are the basis of the country's export revenues and currency liquidity. Their presence under sanctions means that the US retains a powerful instrument of pressure, more significant than the restrictions on the dictator's state-private aircraft and the national air carrier.

The "Sword of Damocles" of sanctions continues to hang over Lukashenko.

The US still has at its disposal a whole range of powerful levers of pressure on Lukashenko. It is important for the Cabinet, and we uphold this position, that these tools are applied consistently and strategically, so that the “Sword of Damocles” of American sanctions remains over the regime until Lukashenko meets the key conditions for their removal — including those that the democratic forces have already conveyed to American partners. This refers to the unconditional release of all political prisoners, as demanded by US President Donald Trump, the complete cessation of political repression, the decriminalization of socio-political life in Belarus, and the cessation of extraterritorial persecution of Belarusians abroad.

Until these demands are met, it is important for us that the pressure on the dictator is not only maintained but is also considered a guarantee that the regime will move from imitation of changes to real steps.

The 'Golden Sanctions Share' is in the EU's hands

It should be emphasized: the measures of pressure most tangible for the regime — the 'Golden Sanctions Share' — are in the hands of the EU.

As long as the regime does not change its internal repressive policy — does not stop political violence and does not begin a real dialogue with society — Lukashenko should not count on the lifting of European sanctions — we convey this to our European partners.

While welcoming the actions of the US regarding the release of political prisoners, it is important that the EU adheres to a principled position on the issue of lifting sanctions.

In our opinion, at the moment, a strategy of two forces and directions should be applied towards the regime:

  1. Use US sanctions to ensure the release of all political prisoners and the cessation of repression;

  2. EU sanctions to compel the regime to implement systemic changes in its domestic and foreign policy.

I welcome the decision of US President Donald Trump to nominate John Coale for the position of US Special Envoy for Belarus. I hope that the US, using its global leadership and sanctions leverage, will be able to assist in the release of all political prisoners in Belarus without exception, and will support the Belarusian democratic forces in resolving the deep internal political crisis in the country.

Belarusian Legal Entities Remaining Under US Sanctions (SDN List)

Finance and Banks

  • JSC Belvnesheconombank

  • JSC Bank Dabrabyt 

  • CJSC Trade Bank Capital

  • JSC Sberbank

  • CJSC VTB Bank

  • JSC Belinvestbank

  • LLC Belinvest-Engineering

  • CJSC BelBusinessLeasing

Logistics, Transport, and Services

  • LLC Ulate Logistic

  • LLC Ruzekspeditsiya

  • LLC Bremino Group

  • RUE Beltamozhservice

  • LLC Belkaztrans

  • State Enterprise Tsentrkurort

  • LLC Sohra

Fertilizers

  • JSC Grodno Azot

  • JSC Belaruskali 

  • JSC Belarusian Potash Company

  • JLLC Slavkali

Oil and Gas Sector

  • CJA BELNEFTEGAZ 

  • Concern Belneftekhim 

  • JSC Naftan

  • UE Belarusian Oil Trade House 

  • UE Oil Bitumen Plant

  • CJSC New Oil Company

  • CJSC Energo-Oil

  • LLC Interservice

Chemical Industry

  • JSC Belshina 

  • JSC Polotsk-Steklovolokno

  • JSC Lakokraska 

  • JSC Belarusgumatekhnika

Woodworking

  • Concern BELLESBUMPROM

Metallurgy

  • JSC Belarusian Steel Works

  • CJA Discoms

Cement Industry and Construction

  • RUE Holding Belarusian Cement Company 

  • JLLC Dana Astra

  • LLC Dubai Water Front

  • LLC Belinte-Roba

  • LLC Emirates Blue Sky 

Mechanical Engineering and Equipment Manufacturing

  • JSC BelAZ — Management Company of the BelAZ-Holding Holding

  • JSC MZKT 

  • JSC Minsk Automobile Plant

  • JSC Amkodor

  • JSC Agat — Control Systems 

  • JSC Agat — Electromechanical Plant

  • JSC Planar 

  • JSC Tekhnika Svyazi

  • JSC Legmash Plant

  • JSC StankoGomel 

  • LLC Mot

  • UPNPP Tekhnolit 

IT and High Technologies

  • LLC Synesis 

  • LLC KB Unmanned Helicopters

  • JSC Scientific-Research Institute of Electronic Computing Machines

  • LLC KB Unmanned Helicopters Additive Technologies Laboratory

  • LLC KB Unmanned Helicopters InaTech Solutions 

  • BSVT New Technologies 

  • LLC 24X7 Panoptes


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