US lifts more sanctions on Belavia

The US government has lifted more sanctions on "Belavia" and allowed the company to fly American-made Boeings to Russia. This popular route is no longer subject to restrictions.

The easing came against the backdrop of negotiations between the administrations of Lukashenka and Trump over the release of political prisoners in exchange for lifting sanctions, investigative journalists from Buro noted.

It became known in September 2025 that the US was lifting sanctions on Belavia. However, a ban remained in place on flights to Russia using American-made aircraft. Belavia ignored this ban immediately. Although eight airliners were under the ban, seven of them flew to Moscow in September, six to Sochi, and four to Sankt-Pieciarburg. Individual aircraft were also routed to Kaliningrad, Yekaterinburg, Makhachkala, Noyabrsk, and Samara.

After that, the American side lifted sanctions on Lukashenka's personal aircraft — a government airliner with the tail number EW-001PA. But in an October letter addressed to Belavia, the US Department of Commerce stressed that flights to Russia on American-made Boeings remained prohibited.

The Belarusian airline, however, ignored the requirements and expanded its route geography — adding Kazan and Vladikavkaz. Lukashenka called the ban on Boeing flights to Russia "absurd obligations."

And already in November, as Buro established, the Americans sent a new letter to Belavia. In it, Russia was no longer listed among the countries to which the Belarusian carrier is banned from flying on American Boeings.

Belavia's CEO Ihar Charhiniec openly stated that the lifting of American restrictions had become a signal for all of the Belarusian company's partners. Following this, flights to Almaty resumed, flights to Israel were reinstated, routes to Thailand opened, and flights to Vietnam, Tunisia, and Jordan are being prepared.