The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced new sanctions targeting 19 individuals, 14 entities, and one aircraft under Belarus-related Executive Order (E.O.) 14038. These measures are aimed at those involved in supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine through military resource production, transshipment of goods to Russia, sanctions evasion on behalf of Belarusian defense entities, and revenue generation for Belarusian oligarchs within Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s inner circle. Additionally, five targets—three individuals and two entities—are designated under Russia-related E.O. 14024.
"Lukashenka’s support for Russia’s indefensible war against Ukraine comes at a high cost for Belarus," stated Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. "As Belarus marks another year under Lukashenka’s rule, the regime’s blatantly corrupt, destabilizing, and anti-democratic acts—along with its continued support for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine—have only further ostracized Belarus from the global community."
In response to the fraudulent August 2020 Presidential election in Belarus, Lukashenka's regime has been marked by crackdowns on peaceful protesters, democratic organizations, and journalists. The regime continues to support Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine by hosting Russian military bases and allowing Russian forces to use Belarus as a staging point for operations.
The new designations coincide with actions taken by the European Union (EU), Canada, and the United Kingdom against Belarusian authorities involved in human rights abuses. The Department of State has also imposed visa restrictions on 19 regime officials and their affiliates for undermining democracy in Belarus.
Among those targeted is Peleng JSC (Peleng), a key enterprise in Belarus's optoelectronic industry that produces components for spacecraft and military vehicles used by Russia. LLC Laboratory of Additive Technologies (LAT) has also been designated for supplying components to Peleng despite sanctions.
Other notable designations include OOO Ruchservomotor (Ruchservomotor), which manufactures precision coordinate systems; several manufacturers such as LLC AlYurTekh (AlYurTekh) and ALC Diskoms (Diskoms); cargo airline companies Aviakompaniya Rada LLC (Rada) and UE RubiStar (RubiStar); logistics companies Ruzekspeditsiya LLC (Ruzekspeditsiya) and VLATE Logistic LLC (VLATE); defense sector entities Joint Stock Company Plant Legmash (Legmash) and KB Unmanned Helicopters (UAVHeli); and Lukashenka's luxury airliner EW-001PB.
The sanctions block all property and interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction owned or controlled by these designated persons. They also prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions involving these properties unless authorized by OFAC.
OFAC emphasizes that the ultimate goal of these sanctions is not punitive but aims to induce positive behavioral changes. For information regarding removal from an OFAC list or details on today's sanctioned individuals and entities, refer to OFAC's official channels.
