The US Treasury Department announced on Tuesday that it would ease several sanctions on Belarus, including lifting restrictions on the national airline and authorizing transactions related to President Alexander Lukashenko’s presidential jet, Reuters reported on Nov 4.
The step marks the latest sign of improving ties between Washington and Minsk following years of strain amid US efforts to isolate the country, including with sanctions directly targeting Lukashenko.
According to the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), sanctions were formally removed on Belavia and an aircraft operated by the airline that the department previously identified as being used by senior officials and members of Lukashenko’s family.
In addition, OFAC issued a general license permitting certain transactions related to three previously sanctioned aircraft used by Lukashenko or Slavkali, a company with ties to his authoritarian regime.
Previous treasury statements show that the aircraft covered in the license are a Boeing 737 owned by the Belarusian government used as a presidential jet, as well as another aircraft formerly part of the presidential fleet.
A luxury Slavkali-owned helicopter that had been used to transport Lukashenko between Minsk and his suburban home was the third.
Despite these relaxations, a broad range of US sanctions imposed after Belarus’ fraudulent 2020 presidential election, subsequent protests and crackdowns remain in place, including on Lukashenko himself.
The Treasury and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment by Reuters.
In September, it was reported that Belarus was ignoring the terms of a White House deal trading relief of American air industry sanctions on Belarus for the release of 52 prisoners.
The group of political prisoners released included the opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich, philosopher Uladzimir Matskevich and Lithuanian citizen Alena Romanauskienė.