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Obama extends asset freeze targeting Belarusian officials

US President Barack Obama has extended a measure blocking any property in the United States owned by Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka and some other Belarusian government officials by another year, BelaPAN reports.

The White House press office said that the measure targeted “certain persons undermining democratic processes or institutions in Belarus.”

"Despite the release of internationally recognized political prisoners in the fall of 2008 and our continuing efforts to press for further reforms related to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Belarus, serious challenges remain," Mr. Obama said in his message.

"The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons to undermine Belarus democratic processes or institutions, to commit human rights abuses related to political repression, and to engage in public corruption pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared to deal with this threat and the related measures blocking the property of certain persons," the message said.

The sanctions were introduced by Mr. Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, on June 16 , 2006 and have been annually extended since.

Apart from Mr. Lukashenka, the asset freeze order named Natallya Pyatkevich, deputy head of the Presidential Administration; Justice Minister Viktar Halavanaw; Alyaksandr Zimowski, chairman of the Belarusian State Television and Radio Company; Stsyapan Sukharenka, then chairman of the Committee for State Security (KGB); Viktar Sheyman, then state secretary of the Security Council; Dzmitry Pawlichenka, then chief of an Interior Troops unit; Uladzimir Navumaw, then minister of internal affairs; Lidziya Yarmoshyna, chairwoman of the central election commission; and Mr. Lukashenka's son Viktar, security adviser to the head of state.

The order blocks all property and interests in property of the persons. It prohibits US companies and individuals from engaging in any transactions with the targeted persons. These persons will not be able to access any assets that they might have in the United States, and US financial institutions, wherever located, will not be able to provide any financial services to them.