The White House has announced the extension of the US state of emergency and related sanctions against the Belarusian authorities for an additional year, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.


The state of emergency concerning Belarus was first declared in 2006 by then-President George W. Bush.


"On June 16, 2006, by Executive Order 13405, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons to undermine Belarus's democratic processes or institutions, manifested in the fundamentally undemocratic March 2006 elections; to commit human rights abuses related to political repression, including detentions and disappearances; and to engage in public corruption, including by diverting or misusing Belarusian public assets or by misusing public authority,” the document states.


In 2021, the scope of the emergency measures was expanded by Joe Biden:


“On August 9, 2021, by Executive Order 14038, the President expanded the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13405”.


The current US President, Donald Trump, has now extended the state of emergency until June 2027, citing continued concerns over the actions of the Belarusian authorities.


"The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons, and the Belarusian regime's harmful activities and long-standing abuses, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13405, which was expanded in scope in Executive Order 14038, must continue in effect beyond June 16, 2026. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13405," the statement says.


By Tamilla Hasanova