MINSK. Aug 9 (Interfax) - The United States Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on three Belarusian private freight airline companies: Belcanto, Rada Airlines and Rubystar, the department said in a statement on the issuance of a license to discontinue operations with the companies.
According to the license, payments to these companies (classed as blocked entities on August 9) are permitted until September 10, 2024, providing that the goods, technologies or services provided, exported or re-exported, are intended for use on aircraft operated exclusively for civilian aviation purposes.
The restrictions also extend to any legal entity in which the sanctioned companies own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more shares.
Belcanto is a private Belarusian freight airline company founded in 2020. It uses Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft.
Rada Airlines was founded in 2015 to transport cargo on Il-62s.
Rubystar was founded in 2000 and has provided freight services since 2008. The company has a fleet of two Il-76TDs and five Antonov An-12s. It also operates a Boeing-747-400 cargo aircraft.
In August last year OFAC sanctioned Belarus' flag carrier Belavia. In April 2022 the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce placed Belavia's Boeing-737s on the list of aircraft whose servicing violates the U.S. export control, and extended these sanctions by a year in December 2023.