English

Obama extends US sanctions against Lukashenka, nine other Belarusians

US President Barack Obama has extended by one year his country’s sanctions against Alyaksandr Lukashenka and nine other Belarusians.

"The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons to undermine Belarus's democratic processes or institutions, to commit human rights abuses related to political repression, and to engage in public corruption continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States," Mr. Obama said in his statement on June 10. "For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13405 with respect to Belarus."

The visa bans and asset freezes targeting Mr. Lukashenka and nine other Belarusians were approved by Mr. Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, in June 2006.

Apart from Mr. Lukashenka, the US sanctions target his eldest son Viktar, presidential aide for national security since 2005; Lidziya Yarmoshyna, chairperson of the central election commission since 1996; Viktar Halavanaw, who was minister of justice in 2006; Viktar Sheyman, the then state secretary of the Security Council who is currently head of the Presidential Administration's property management department; Dzmitry Pawlichenka, the then chief of the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) of the interior ministry; Stsyapan Sukharenka, the then chief of the Committee for State Security (KGB); Alyaksandr Zimowski, the then chairperson of the Belarusian State Television and Radio Company; and Natallya Pyatkevich, the then first deputy head of the Presidential Administration who is currently presidential aide. //BelaPAN