OFAC Publishes Belarus Sanctions Regulations

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published in yesterday's Federal Register the Belarus Sanctions Regulations (31 C.F.R. Part 548) to implement Executive Order 13405 issued by President Bush in June 2006 that authorized the blocking of assets of individuals and entities determined to be responsible for undermining democratic processes or institutions in Belarus or engaging in political repression or public corruption.

The Belarus Sanctions Regulations are targeted only at certain persons and entities who have been specifically designated by the U.S. and do not prohibit trade or the provision of banking or other financial services involving  Belarus, unless the transaction or service involves a person whose property and interests in property have been blocked.

The names of persons and entities in Belarus and elsewhere whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to EO 13405 are included on OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (‘‘SDN’’ list) with the identifier "[BELARUS]." Included on the SDN List is Belneftekhim, the largest enterprise in Belarus and was previously the largest exporter of Belarusian products to the United States.