Political repressions, international sanctions
On 21 June 2021, BelAZ was added to the sanctions list of the European Union for repressions against workers who participated in mass protests against the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenka following the controversial presidential election of 2020. According to the official decision of the EU, "'[BelAZ] is a source of significant revenue for the Lukashenka regime. Lukashenka stated that the government will always support the company, and described it as “Belarusian brand” and “part of the national legacy”. OJSC BelAZ has offered its premises and equipment to stage a political rally in support of the regime. Therefore OJSC “Belaz” benefits from and supports the Lukashenka regime.'[7]"
Moreover, "'the employees of OJSC “Belaz” who took part in strikes and peaceful protests in the aftermath of the fraudulent August 2020 elections in Belarus were threatened with layoffs and intimidated by the company management. A group of employees was locked indoors by OJSC Belaz to prevent them from joining the other protesters. The company management presented a strike to the media as a staff meeting. Therefore OJSC “Belaz” is responsible for the repression of civil society and supports the Lukashenka regime.'[7]"
On the same day, BelAZ was also sanctioned by Canada.[8] Later, Switzerland also sanctioned the company.[9][10]
On 30 June 2021, Rolls-Royce Holdings ended its cooperation with BelAZ as a result of EU sanctions,[11] in September 2021 Cummins joined the ban.[12]
According to a joint journalistic investigation by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, Belarusian Investigative Center and Siena, after BelAZ was blacklisted by the European Union, a Belarusian company controlled by a citizen of Lithuania was used for shipping BelAZ trucks to Chile via the Lithuanian port of Klaipėda.[13]
In March 2023, the U.S. Treasury included BelAZ and its CEO Sergei Nikiforovich in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List.[14] In May 2023, Ukraine also imposed sanctions against BelAZ.[15]
