Obama extended sanctions against Belarusan authorities

On June 10 President Obama signed the decree on continuation of American sanctions against Belarusan authorities.

The decree informs that “the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”.

According to the US President, the actions of the Belarusan authorities undermine Belarus's democratic processes or institutions. There are violations of human rights, “related to political repression, and public corruption”.

US introduced sanctions as far back as in June 2006. The list of persons in it is annually renewed, though Belarus President Aliaksandr Lukashenka, the secretary of Security Council, Chair of the KGB, and the head of the Central Election Committee are permanently in the list.