Belarus considers the decision of the U.S. government to impose economic sanctions on Belarus as an "unreasonable and unjustified step." "This solution brings tension and mistrust to the bilateral relations," noted in the Belarusian Foreign Ministry on February 1. Besides, the Belarusian party has retained the right to take "retaliatory steps of proportional character."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the U.S. authorities’ decision to impose economic sanctions violates the U.S. commitment not to apply coercive economic measures to Belarus under the Budapest Memorandum, 1994.
«The methods of pressure and coercion are absolutely hopeless,» the Foreign Ministry of Belarus. In addition, an official Foreign Ministry statement notes that the Belarusian side is interested in maintaining a constructive relationship with American partners, which meets the interests of both countries.
As Telegraf previously reported, January 31, the U.S. State Department announced the introduction of unilateral sanctions against a number of Belarusian companies. For example, the U.S. revoked documents permitting the U.S. citizens to have business with Lakokraska and Polotsk Steklovolokno, subsidiaries of state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim. In addition, the U.S. expanded the list of Belarusian citizens not to enter the country, as well as preparing to impose economic sanctions against a number of Belarusian citizens.
The State Department has made it clear that sanctions will remain in force until the Belarusian authorities release all the political prisoners and opposition members, as well as lift all their charges.
