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“We deplore the decision of the Americans to lift the sanctions,” the State Department said in a statement.
“The interests, security and stability of the business world, Belarusians and ordinary Americans in the region are not important to Washington,” he said. “Our region alone will have to pay once again for the consequences of these irresponsible actions.”
The administration of US President Joe Biden warned on March 31 that it would reintroduce sanctions unless the Belarusian authorities released the prisoners, and on Monday gave the green light to punishment.
According to Washington, these nine industrial and oil companies finance and support the Minsk regime.
Since 2015, Washington has regularly waived sanctions on these nine companies, including the Belneftechim oil company, in recognition of some progress in Belarus, which has been ruled by Lukashenko for two and a half decades.
Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was declared the winner of the August elections and was later sworn in for a sixth term, despite criticism from the international community and manipulation by the country’s opposition.
State authorities responded by force to the post-election demonstrations and sentenced hundreds of people to harsh prison terms. Sviatlana Cichanouskaja, who is considered the real winner of the elections, retired to Lithuania.
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