[News] Belarusian president's "luxury airliner" sanctioned under US Treasury's new round of actions

[Mindsphere.]

Source: CLICK HERE

 

In its latest financial and diplomatic sanctions, the US is going after companies and individuals involved in the crackdown against Belarus' pro-democracy movement and the existing regime's involvement in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Biden administration on Friday sanctioned Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's personal "luxury airliner."

Lukansheko's regime "relies on state-owned enterprises and key officials to generate substantial revenue that enables oppressive acts against the Belarusian people,” Treasury Under Secretary Brian Nelson, a top US sanctions official, said in a statement

The US remains "committed to imposing costs" on Lukashenko's regime for its suppression of democracy and support for Putin’s war, the statement added.

Here are other individuals and entities facing sanctions:

Two companies — Open Joint Stock Company Belarusian Automobile Plant and Open Joint Stock Company Minsk Automobile Plant — and both of their directors "for supporting and generating revenue for the Belarusian government."

The Central Election Commission of Belarus and its seven new members for their role in "barring opposition candidates, denying access to poll observers, and certifying inaccurate vote tallies" in the fraudulent 2020 elections.

The US State Department is also issuing visa restrictions on 14 additional individuals, including regime officials. Lukashenko's jetliner, EW-001PA, is a Boeing 737 used by the Belarusian strongman and his family for international travel, according to the Treasury. 

More on the Belarus-Russia relationship: Lukashenko is a close ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin who permitted Russian troops to use Belarus to stage their initial invasion into Ukraine last year. The US and its allies have since then targeted Minsk with a set of sweeping sanctions. Additionally, the European Union does not recognize the results of the 2020 Belarus election and the US has called it a "fraudulent." The widespread fraud sparked mass pro-democracy protests which led to a brutal crackdown from the government.