US lifts sanctions on Belarusian Steel Works subsidiary

July 24, Pozirk. The United States Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) removed BEL-KAP-STEEL LLC, registered in Miami, from its sanctions list, the agency said in a recent press release, without disclosing the reasons.

Washington sanctioned BEL-KAP-STEEL in 2023 along with restrictions on the Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ), which owns a 50 percent stake in BEL-KAP-STEEL.

The Žłobin-based BMZ, manufacturing billet, steel bars, steel wire rod, seamless pipes, steel cord and steel fiber, is under international sanctions for supplying Russia with products used in its war against Ukraine.

The plant sells 75 percent of its products abroad, with Russia accounting for up to 80 percent of its exports, Siarhiej Ciarleckij, a deputy CEO, said earlier this year. The exiled intelligence group BelPol claims that BMZ is involved in the mass production of ammunition for the Russian army.

Earlier this year, the US lifted sanctions on Biełinvestbank, the Development Bank of Belarus, the Ministry of Finance, the Biełaruśkalij potash giant and Belarusian Potash Company after Alaksandar Łukašenka freed 250 jailed dissidents following talks with John Coale, the US special envoy for Belarus, on March 19.

Last year, Washington also lifted its sanctions on Belarus’ national airline Biełavija after American diplomats had secured the release of more than 50 designated political prisoners during talks with Łukašenka.

Politics Security

Politics, Security

EU sanctions Mazyr refinery, seller of Belarus' petroleum products to Russia

July 24, Pozirk. The Council of the European Union sanctioned the Mazyr oil refinery and the European Trading Company LLC, a company selling Belarusian petroleum products in Russia, the Official Journal of the EU says. The new restrictions are part …

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