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USA extends suspension of sanctions against two Belarusian companies

The US Treasury Department has decided against renewing its sanctions against two companies of the Belnaftakhim state petrochemical conglomerate until at least June 1, 2009, BelaPAN said.

In September 2008, the Treasury Department authorized all transactions with AAT Lakafarba, a paint and varnish company in Lida, and AAT Polatsk-Shklovalakno, a glass fiber manufacturer in Polatsk, for a period of six months. The easing of the sanctions came in response to the release of political prisoners Alyaksandr Kazulin, Syarhey Parsyukevich and Andrey Kim in August.

A statement posted on the Treasury Department’s website says that all transactions between US businesses and the two Belarusian companies are authorized until June 1, 2009, while all property and interests in property of Lakafarba and Polatsk-Shklovalakno that were previously blocked remain blocked.

In November 2007, Washington imposed sanctions on Belnaftakhim over alleged human rights violations by the Belarusian government. It added Belnaftakhim to its list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, which led to freezing any assets found in the USA that belonged to Belnaftakhim and barring US citizens from doing business with Belnaftakhim and its subsidiaries and offices.

On May 15, 2008, the US Treasury Department issued a new clarification for the application of the economic sanctions, designating three companies controlled by Belnaftakhim – Lakafarba, Polatsk-Shklovalakno, and the Belarusian Oil Trading House.