Biełšyna supplies tires to Russian defense companies after EU lifts sanctions

October 9, Pozirk. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg made a mistake by lifting restrictions on the Belarusian state-run tire manufacturer Biełšyna in March, as the company supplies tires to the Russian military industry, the Belarusian Investigative Center reported.

In 2022 and 2023, Biełšyna distributor Biełnaftachim-Ros LLC reportedly signed more than 1.5 billion Russian rubles ($19.5 million) worth of contracts with the Russian defense ministry, the journalists said, noting that Belarusian authorities feature as the ultimate beneficiary of the deals. Sales in the first half of 2023 alone exceeded $11 million.

Along with the defense ministry, the list of Biełšyna’s Russian customers includes companies from St. Petersburg and Nizhniy Novgorod that produce military vehicles.

Customs invoices show that Biełšyna supplied 2.4 million tires to Russia in 2023, journalists said, adding that the distributing company also purchased more than 2 million tires worth $90 million from Biełšyna.

A 2023 Russian exhibition of military equipment reportedly displayed Malva self-propelled howitzers and BAZ artillery tractors with Biełšyna tires. The latter can carry the S-400 missile systems that Russia uses to attack Ukraine.

Last year, the BelAZ Trading House became another Biełšyna distributor. A sports club headed by Alaksandar Łukašenka’s son Dźmitryj holds a 45-percent stake in it.

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