Answer of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry Press Service to the question of International News Agency “Russia Today” about the expansion of US sanctions vis-à-vis Belarus

Russia Today: How can you comment on the US decision taken at the end of last week to expand sanctions against Belarus, which also affect two major machine–building enterprises – MAZ and BelAZ?

Answer: Essentially, such a decision by the American authorities did not come as a surprise to the Belarusian side. Hard to expect anything else from a country that, by inertia, has positioned itself as a ruler of the world, has been convinced in its own exclusivity, infallibility and impunity.

Something else is indicative. The imposition of sanctions against successful civilian enterprises in Belarus is the height of hypocrisy of the US administration, whose representatives are eager to declare their “support” for the Belarusian people at every opportunity. I doubt that thousands of ordinary workers of our flagship factories coveted such foreign assistance and support that comes in the form of absolutely illegal and groundless sanctions.

At the same time, we are convinced that the teams of MAZ and BelAZ, who already have considerable experience in working under sanctions pressure, will successfully manage any new challenges.

In real life, any attempts to economically isolate or strangle our country are stillborn. The Republic of Belarus has been, is and will be a sovereign state pursuing an independent foreign policy. And no sanctions, restrictions or threats will force us to veer away from our course and act contrary to our national interests.

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