U.S. Treasury Targets Belarusian Support for Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Source: U.S. Treasury
WASHINGTON As part of the United States serious and expansive response to Russias further invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning 24 Belarusian individuals and entities due to Belaruss support for, and facilitation of, the invasion. Todays action focuses on Belaruss defense sector and financial institutions, two areas in which Belarus has especially close ties to Russia. Belarus has become increasingly reliant on Russia for economic, political, and military support in recent years as the regime has clung to power following the fraudulent August 2020 presidential election.
Treasurys Russia-related actions will also have significant downstream effects in Belarus. The Belarusian economy is highly dependent on key Russian financial institutions and their subsidiaries, including Public Joint Stock Company Sberbank of Russia (Sberbank), VTB Bank Public Joint Stock Company (VTB), and State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs Vnesheconombank (VEB). Restrictions against Sberbank, VTB, and VEB, combined with the measures against Belarusian banks, target nearly one-fifth of the countrys entire financial sector.
Having already sacrificed its legitimacy to suppress the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people, the Lukashenka regime is now jeopardizing Belaruss sovereignty by supporting Russias further invasion of Ukraine, said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. Treasury continues to disrupt Belaruss military and financial capabilities through targeted sanctions. Further, due to the interconnectedness between the two countries, the actions Treasury took against Russia today will also impose severe economic pain on the Lukashenka regime.
Todays actions follow five previous Belarus-related sanctions tranches by the United States and its allies in response to the degradation of democracy in Belarus. The Lukashenka regime has continued to erode democracy in Belarus and has become increasingly subservient to Russia in the process. Proposed amendments to the Belarusian constitution will exacerbate that trend and will pave the way for increased Russian influence in Minsk.
Read more: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0607
Targeting state-owned banks, defense/security industries, defense officials, and some of Lukashenkas inner circle.
I had been wondering about this, since they are letting tanks come through there to northern Ukraine.
Duppers
(28,120 posts)I feel sorry for any satellite countries near Russia. Wonder how much pressure is being applied.
Rachel is reporting on Russian troops in Belarus now. "Russia is serious about moving nuclear weapons into Belarus now," her guest just said.
Nukes into Belarus!