Blocked Belarus Planes Cleared for Limited Flights in Sanctions Update
Published Date: 3/2/2026
Rule
Summary
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) officially published a special permission called General License 12, which lets certain blocked aircraft linked to Belarus be used again. This affects specific planes tied to Belarusian officials and companies, allowing some transactions that were previously banned. The license started on November 4, 2025, but it doesn’t unblock any frozen money or other banned deals.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Blocked Funds Are Not Unblocked
The general license does not authorize the unblocking of any funds that were blocked on or before 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, November 4, 2025. If money was frozen on or before that exact time and date, it remains blocked despite this license.
Transactions Allowed for Three Specific Aircraft
OFAC issued General License No. 12 authorizing transactions otherwise prohibited by the Belarus Sanctions Regulations that relate to three specific aircraft: tail numbers EW-001PA (serial 33079), EW-001PB (serial 33968), and EW-001PH (serial 31835). The license specifically includes transactions related to use of these aircraft by Alyaksandr Lukashenka or Foreign Limited Liability Company Slavkali.
Specified Aircraft Are Unblocked
General License No. 12 states that, except as limited by the license, the three aircraft listed (EW-001PA, EW-001PB, EW-001PH) are unblocked. This change is tied to the GL issued on November 4, 2025.
License Does Not Authorize Other Blocked-Person Deals
General License No. 12 does not authorize any transactions otherwise prohibited by the Belarus Sanctions Regulations that involve any person blocked under those regulations, except for the uses and persons specifically described in the license note. Transactions with other blocked persons remain prohibited.
Other Federal Export Rules Still Apply
The GL notes that nothing in the license relieves anyone from complying with other U.S. laws and agency requirements, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). You must still follow those export and other federal rules when doing related transactions.
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