The United States has not extended its sanctions against Belarusian arms trader BelTechExport. The information has been published on the State Department’s web site on May 24, 2013.
It is to be recalled that on May 23, 2011 the U.S. put BelOMO, a company producing military equipment and optical guidance systems, and Beltecheksport dealing with the modernization of aviation and air defense systems on the list of companies subjected to sanctions. The sanctions meant that US government agencies were banned from buying any goods, services or technologies from the companies or providing any assistance to them.
The U.S. State Department announced then that the basis of the imposition of two-year sanctions was the information about alleged cooperation of the listed companies with countries covered by the UN embargo on arms trade: Iran, North Korea and Syria. The companies were accused of supplying to those countries equipment or technology that could be used in developing weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.
In 2011, BelTechExport was banned from doing business in the European Union because it was controlled by Belarusian businessman Uladzimir Peftsiyeu, who is believed to be Lukashenka’s “chief economic advisor and key financial sponsor”. In 2012, the arms trader announced that it was no longer controlled by Mr. Peftsiyeu. The company was reported to be bought by Russian businessman Dmitry Gurinovich. According to independent experts, the deal is designated to take the heat off Beltechexport.
Belsat
