US Tightens Sanctions on Belarus Petrochemical Group

The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on three units of a Belarus petrochemical firm in the latest move to step up pressure on the country Washington calls the "last dictatorship in Europe."

The US Treasury designated three companies linked to Belneftekhim Concern, the country's largest petrochemical firm, which Washington says is controlled by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

The new sanctions cover Lakokraska OAO, Polotsk Steklovolokno OAO, and the Belarusian Oil Trade House.

Lakokraska is a subsidiary of Belneftekhim Concern and manufactures varnishes and paints, according to Treasury. Polotsk Steklovolokno OAO, also a subsidiary of Belneftekhim Concern, manufactures glass, silica fibers, and other related products.

The Belarusian Oil Trade House is "an enterprise of Belneftekhim Concern and acts as a clearinghouse for financial, contractual, and web-based transactions on behalf of Belneftekhim Concern and its subsidiaries," a Treasury statement said.

The actions are based on an executive order that authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury "to designate individuals or entities that are responsible for undermining, or have participated in actions that undermine, democratic processes or institutions in Belarus," according to the statement.

The actions also may apply to firms or people linked to human rights abuses in Belarus or to senior officials or family members linked to corruption.

The move freezes any assets of these entities that are within US jurisdiction and bans transactions by Americans with the entities.

Belarus last month expelled 10 US diplomats amid an escalating diplomatic row over alleged human rights abuses.

Washington imposed sanctions to put pressure on the country's authoritarian leadership to allow democratic freedoms and release political prisoners.