The US Treasury Department has removed the Belarusian state airline Belavia and the Bombardier Challenger 850 business jet from the sanctions list. It should be noted that this is used by high-ranking Belarusian officials and members of Alexander Lukashenko's family.
The sanctions relate to sanctions imposed against Minsk in December 2021. According to the Zerkalo publication, the lifting of restrictions was Washington's response to the release of Belarusian political prisoners. In September, US President's spokesman John Cole told Lukashenko that the United States was ready to review sanctions in return for this step.
The US Treasury Department has also issued a temporary license for financial transactions involving three aircraft associated with Lukashenko or the Slavkali company, which remains under sanctions.
The permit applies to "maintenance, flights, and other technical and commercial operations." However, according to the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty, political and aviation restrictions on the use of American aircraft, as well as other US sanctions against Minsk, remain in force.
