US Senators seek new sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime

• 9.02.2011, 8:16

A Democratic Senator Tim Johnson is seeking new sanctions against Belarus for its crackdown on opposition party members.

It is reported in the blog of a journalist Samuel Rubenfeld at The Wall Street Journal website.

Tim Johnson, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee said he wants to review sanctions against Belarus, and may introduce legislation addressing the issue.

A memo to committee members was issued on February 2. Johnson said any legislation “could include expanding current travel restrictions, the existing asset freeze against Belarusian officials, as well as other sanctions.” A week ago the US expanded its list of Belarusian officials sanctioned under current legislation, he reminded.

The US has imposed unilateral sanctions against a number of Belarusian companies, and extended the list of Belarusian citizens restricted from entering to the US.

The US has revoked document permitting US citizens to have business with JSC “Lakokraska” and “Polotsk Steklovolokno”, which are subsidiaries of state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim. All transactions with Belneftekhim are blocked at the moment, the report of the US Department of State reads.

Recently the European Union has rubberstamped the list of 158 Belarusian officials who are banned from entry to the territory of the EU member countries.

These actions are a response to the dispersal of the demonstration in Minsk on December 19 and numerous arrests of its participants.