U.S. Prolongs Sanctions Against Belavia

For another 180 days.

On December 7, the U.S. Department of Commerce prolonged export restrictions against the Belarusian airline Belavia for another 180 days. A notice about this appeared on the department's website.

The United States first imposed export sanctions on the Belarusian airline back in June 2022 for violating restrictions imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine. They were valid for 180 days. They were prolonged twice in December last year and in the summer of 2023. However, the U.S. Department of Commerce noted that the Belarusian air carrier continues to operate flights on American-assembled aircraft in circumvention of sanctions. Therefore, there are grounds for extending restrictions on the export of aviation products, spare parts, software, etc., as well as on their maintenance and repair, Reform writes.

As the OtVinta telegram channel dedicated to Belarusian aviation wrote in June of this year, after a year of American sanctions, seven of the eight Boeing aircraft of the national airline are “on the wing” and flying. The only exception is the Boeing 737−300 (number EW-366PA), which has been in storage at the National Airport since December 24, 2022.