US extended sanctions on Lukashenka and his officials

US President Barack Obama extended for a year sanctions imposed against certain Belarusian high-ranking officials on June 16, 2006.

This information came from the White House’s press service. “The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Accordingly, the national emergency declared on June 16, 2006, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond June 16, 2010. Therefore, in accordance with […] the National Emergencies Act […] I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency,” says the Notice from Barack Obama to the US Congress released on June 8.

According to the US president, despite the release of internationally recognized political prisoners in 2008 and US’s continuing efforts to press for democratic reforms in Belarus, serious challenges remain.

We remind that sanctions against Belarusian president Alyaksandr Lukashenka, former KGB head Stsyapan Sukharenka, chairman of the State TV and Radio Company Alyaksandr Zimouski, former minister of internal affairs Uladzimir Navuau, deputy head of President’s Administration Natallya Pyatkevich and other officials and their family members were imposed by George Bush in 2006.

The United States annually prolongs the national emergency and related measures blocking certain Belarusian officials’ property under the US jurisdiction.

In November 2007, the US imposed economic sanctions on Belneftekhim concern due to human rights violations in Belarus. The bilateral relations aggravated in March 2008, after the Belarusian authorities had refuse to release former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin (then the last out of six internationally recognized political prisoners). Belarus’s envoys to the US were recalled from Washington to Minsk for consultations, staff of both embassies was reduced to a minimum.