US and EU Impose Additional Sanctions on Belarus Regime Simultaneously: Belavia Announces Fleet Cuts, Lukashenko's Son Also Hit

At the same time, Lukashenko's side called on European politicians to "come to their senses."

On Thursday, the US and the EU introduced a new package of sanctions against Belarus. They target Belarus's state debt, 20 individuals and 12 companies, including the son of self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko, Dmitry, and the airline Belavia.

According to a document on the US Treasury website, from December 2, American legal and natural persons are prohibited from providing loans to the Belarusian Ministry of Finance or the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus.

These sanctions are linked to the migration crisis on the border between the EU and Belarus.

Shortly after the sanctions were introduced, Belarus's Foreign Ministry, which is controlled by Lukashenko, called on European politicians to "come to their senses," while Belavia reported a reduction in its fleet due to the sanctions. 

US Sanctions

The US imposed sanctions on three Belarusian aircraft, 20 individuals, 12 companies, Belarus's Ministry of Finance and the Development Bank.

In connection with the migration crisis on the Polish border, the state company Centrokurort has come under US sanctions.

US officials believe its employees took part in transporting migrants to Belarus and to the border with Poland. The sanctions list includes eight employees of the company.

The list includes two aircraft that are likely owned by Transavia Export. The company is accused of having "transported thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition to foreign conflict zones."

The list also includes Beltekhexport, the AGAT – Control Systems electromechanical plant and several other major companies, including three producers and exporters of potash.

In addition, the US list includes Alexander Lukashenko's eldest son Dmitry as a close official of the regime, as well as Interior Ministry employees and Dmitry Baskov, a member of the executive committee of the Belarusian Olympic Committee.

Also on Thursday, the Canadian government and the United Kingdom announced sanctions against Belarus; the UK imposed restrictions on Belorusskiy LLC.

European Sanctions

The American sanctions list differs from the European one.

The new European restrictions apply to 17 Belarusian officials – border service employees and judges. Restrictions were also imposed on several state-owned enterprises, including Grodno Azot and Belorusneft.

Additionally, the list includes Centrokurort, the company Oskartur and three Minsk hotels. It also includes Syria's Cham Wings, the enterprises Belshina, Belorusneft, Grodno Azot and the Turkish passport and visa center VIP Grub, which organizes tours to Belarus.

The sanctions also apply to other companies involved in organizing tours to Minsk for residents of the Middle East and Africa.

State-owned airline Belavia was also not spared, which, according to the EU, "benefits from the Lukashenko regime and supports it."

EU countries had previously imposed four rounds of sanctions against Belarus.

"Come to Your Senses!": Belarus Foreign Ministry Statement

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry published a statement "in connection with the EU's adoption of another package of sanctions against Belarus," in which it called on "European politicians to come to their senses."

"The absurdity of both the European Union's decisions on new sanctions against sovereign Belarus and their content is already hard to comprehend," the ministry said. "EU officials have invented some aggression from peaceful Belarus and, despite common sense, the facts provided, the technical consultations launched, and the additional measures taken by the Belarusian side to curb illegal migration, hypocritically delivered a sanctions blow."

Belavia Fleet Reduction

Belarusian state airline Belavia said it was forced to reduce its aircraft fleet due to restrictions imposed against it.

"Due to the imposition of restrictions, the airline was forced to reduce its aircraft fleet. As of now, the airline's fleet consists of 15 aircraft," the statement said.

The company said this is sufficient to operate all scheduled flights in the winter season, and by the summer season Belavia plans to replenish its fleet by purchasing aircraft outright and by concluding leasing agreements with companies that are not EU residents.

In addition, Belavia has been banned from flying through a significant part of European airspace following international outrage over the forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Belarus and the arrest of blogger Roman Protasevich.