The sanctions list of the US Treasury Department included JSC “Belarusian Automobile Plant” and JSC “Minsk Automobile Plant”. Sanctions also applied to nine Belarusian citizens, seven of whom are members of the Central Election Commission.
The sanctions were imposed in connection with the “continued brutal repression” against the Belarusian democratic movement and civil society, as well as the country’s “complicity” in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“The regime depends on state-owned companies and key officials. In this way, he receives significant income, which allows him to carry out repressive actions against the Belarusian people,” said Deputy Finance Minister Brian Nelson.
MAZ and BelAZ got there for the simple reason that both companies are under the control of the Belarusian authorities, which means they “act in their best interests”. According to Kommersant, the company leaders, Valery Ivankovich (MAZ) and Sergey Nikiforovich (BELAZ), were also on the sanctions lists.
Strange that the government aircraft EW-001PA, the Boeing 737, was also subject to the sanctions, apparently because it is used by the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, his relatives and close associates. It is not clear in what terms the sanctions against the aircraft are expressed.