US lifts sanctions on Belarus finance ministry and several banks
Illustrative photo: Lukashenko’s regime exchanged political prisoners for the lifting of sanctions (Getty Images)
On March 26, the United States lifted sanctions against Belarus’ Ministry of Finance, the Belarusian Bank of Development and Reconstruction, and the company Belaruskali, as well as several affiliated entities, according to the US Department of the Treasury.
According to the document, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which oversees sanctions, issued General License 14 "Authorizing Transactions Involving Belarussian Bank of Development and Reconstruction Belinvestbank Joint Stock Company and Certain Additional Entities."
"OFAC has also determined, in consultation with the U.S. Department of State, that circumstances no longer warrant the prohibitions imposed on the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Belarus and the Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus," the statement said.
OFAC also updated its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. Among others, the list includes the enterprise Belaruskali and several smaller Belarusian banks.
As reported, on March 19, Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko released a group of political prisoners following a meeting with a US delegation in Minsk, amid agreements on easing sanctions.
This is not the first time Minsk has used such an approach. On December 13, 2025, following negotiations, Lukashenko announced an amnesty for 123 political prisoners, including Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava.
Just two days later, on December 15, the US Department of the Treasury announced the lifting of some sanctions against Belarus, including those targeting companies Belaruskali, the Belarusian Potash Company, and its subsidiary Agrorozkvit.
