US imposes new financial sanctions on Belarus
WASHINGTON. February 1. KAZINFORM The United States announced on Monday, January 31, measures to respond to what it described as "the brutal crackdown" by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his government in the wake of the presidential election of December 19, 2010; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
The sanctions were imposed in response to "disproportionate" use of force and initial detentions of hundreds of demonstrators; charging of five opposition presidential candidates; ongoing raids against civil society, media and political parties; the closure of the OSCE's office in Minsk; and a flawed vote count all represent major steps backwards for the country.
"These actions oblige the United States and others in the international community to act," the State Department said.
As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said in their joint statement of December 23, "the people of Belarus deserve better," it said.
In response to the continuing crackdown, the United States has undertaken the following steps:
The United States is revoking the general license that had temporarily authorised U.S. persons to engage in otherwise prohibited transactions with Lakokraska OAO and Polotsk Steklovolokno OAO, two blocked subsidiaries of Belarus's largest state-owned petroleum and chemical conglomerate, Belneftekhim. All transactions with Belneftekhim and its subsidiaries are now blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13405.
The United States is significantly expanding the list of Belarusian officials subject to travel restrictions. "We will enforce those restrictions to prevent the entry into the United States of individuals (and their family members) who are responsible for actions or policies related to the crackdown that began December 19," the State Department said; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass.
See www.itar-tass.com for full story.