Letter from Belarusians in Exile to German foregin minister

7/27/2019 Letter from Belarusians in Exile to German foregin minister

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Dr. Guido Westerwelle

The Federal Foreign Minister

Federal Foreign Office Auswrtiges Amt D-11013 Berlin

August 9, 2013

Dear Minister Westerwelle,

"Belarusians in Exile" is a non-profit organization uniting Belarusians and their families

who were forced to leave the Republic of Belarus because of systematic violations ofhuman rights, violations of democratic principals, and the risk of persecution for our

political views. In 2012 the Council of the European Union expanded the types ofindividuals and companies that can be sanctioned to include "entities and bodies who

have been identified by the Council as benefiting from or supporting the Lukashenkaregime, as well as legal persons, entities and bodies owned or controlled by them."

However, some of the largest financial contributors to the Lukashenka regime, Stateowned Belarusian companies that derive much of their profits by selling into the EU,

remain unsanctioned.

We urge the Council to use the provisions of the expanded Council Regulation (EC)No 765/2006 and to expand the list of sanctioned companies and individuals in

Belarus to include those companies financially supporting the regime, as well as legalpersons, entities and bodies owned or controlled by them; especially those that derive

significant profits by selling into the EU. Cutting off the flow of funds to the regime andsanctioning the people who run the companies providing finance to the regime is the most

effective way of encouraging the development of democracy in our country.

The EU as a whole is Belarus second largest export market and in 2012 accounted for

38.2% of all Belarusian exports and over 13 billion Euro in export earnings1.The vast majority of Belarusian exports to the EU are mineral fuels, manufactured goods,and chemicals such as potash. The companies responsible for the lions shares of these

exports are owned or controlled in whole or in part by the Belarusian State. The profitsderived from their exports end up in the Belarusian treasury and directly support the

1http://hrwatch-by.org/sites/default/files/Belarus_report_CIC_WG_May_2013_eng.pdf


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dictatorial regime of Alexander Lukashenka. Sanctioning these companies and the peoplewho manage them, companies and people which support the Lukashenka regime through

exports to the EU, must be a top priority for an effective program of sanctions thatencourages positive change.

A list of the companies that are the leading contributors to Belarusian export earnings andwhich are most active in Germany and in EU, as well as their General Managers isattached to this letter.

In order to foster a change in the political situation in Belarus, to stop political repression,

and to provide a normal life for the citizens of our country; we ask you to give effect tothe newly expanded economic sanctions against Belarus by proposing and supporting the

inclusion in Annex I of Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006:

1. The Belarusian companies identified herein, companies which support theLukashenka regime by providing significant foreign exchange earnings, much of which is

derived by selling into the EU;

2. The Belarusian officials and businessmen running these companies who are identifiedherein.

"Belarusians in Exile hopes for the continued support of the Foreign Secretary and the

Council of the European Union in the fight for human rights and political freedom inBelarus.

Sincerely,

Belarusians in Exile

Dmitry ShehigelskyIlya Lushnikov


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1. Belarusian Autoworks OAO (Every third mining dump truck in the world Dump

trucks, road building equipment, mining equipment. State owned.);

2. Belarusian Oil Company: (The principal exporter of oil products from Belarus.);

3. Belarusian Oil Trade House: (Subject to sanctions imposed by the USA);

4. Belarusian Potash Company(Worlds largest exporter of potash supplying 43% of the

worlds potash. 50% owned by Belaruskali potash production company (which is State

owned) and the Belorussian Railways);

5. Belaruskali (One of the worlds largest producers of potash fertilizer. Owned by the

government of Belarus under Belneftekhim which is sanctioned by the USA);

6. Belneftekhim - Belarusian State Concern for Oil and Chemistry:(Subject to

sanctions imposed by the USA);

7. Belshina OAO: (Belarusian Tire Works one of the largest enterprises in Europe. Owned

by the Government of Belarus under Belneftekhim. Subject to sanctions imposed by the

USA);

8. MAZ OAO Minsk Automobile Plant: Heavy trucks and tractors, buses, trailers and

special vehicles. State owned.

9. Mozyr Refinery; Producer of Gasoline, Diesel fuel, furnace fuel and liquefied

gas. The State owns 42.76% of the refinerys shares;

10. Naftan OAO: (Naftan is a subsidiary of Belneftekhim Concern that supplies petroleumproducts to Belarus in addition to producing and refining diesel fuel. 99.8% of its shares are

owned by the State. Subject to sanctions imposed by the USA);

11. Republican Unitary Enterprise "Minsk Tractor Works" One of the worlds 10

largest tractor producers. State owned.

Individuals running the above companies and who should beadded to the UK visa ban list:

1. Osnovsky, Viktor

General Director of MAZ OAO Minsk Automobile Plant

2. Chirun, Nikolai

General Director of Belshina OAO - Belarusian Tire Works


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3. Ivanov, Valery

General Director of the Belarusian Potash Company.

4. Kiriyenko, Valery

General Director of Belaruskali

5. Kupriyanov, Anatoly Alexandrovich

General Director of the Mozyr Refinery

6. Parkhomchik, Piotr Alexandrovich

General Director of Belarusian Autoworks OAO

7.Volikov, Vladimir Fedorovich

General Director of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Minsk Tractor Works"

8. Streletsky, Andrey Valerievich

General Director of the Belarusian Oil Trade House

9. Tretyakov, Vladimir K.

General Director of Naftan OAO

10. Zhilin, Igor Fyodorovich

Chairman of the board of Belneftekhim The Belarusian State Concern for Oil and

Chemistry

11. Demidov, Alexander Vladimirovich

General Director of the Belarusian Oil Company OAO

Documents

Letter from Belarusians in Exile to German foregin minister