The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Naftan OAO, Grodno Azot OAO, Grodno Khimvolokno JSC and Belshina OAO to the list of the Belarusian enterprises, that are subject to sanctions.
According to Department of Treasury, the matter in inquiry is about freezing the assets of these companies, if they come within the U.S. jurisdiction. In addition, the department prohibits the U.S. companies and individuals to deal with designated enterprises.
Imposed sanctions target 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.
Initially, economic sanctions on Belneftekhim were imposed by the U.S. in November 2007 in connection with the violation of human rights in Belarus. Then the U.S. Department of Treasury froze the juridical banking accounts of the enterprise, its representative offices and its subsidiary Belneftekhim USA.
From September 2008 to February 2011 sanctions on the two enterprises of Belneftekhim: Lakokraska OAO and Polotsk Steklovolokno JSC were suspended, but on January 31, the U.S. announced the renewal of sanctions on those companies. It became the reaction on crackdown in Belarus after the presidential election on December 19 and numerous arrests of its participants, including presidential candidates.
