Grodno Azot Explained

Key People:Igor Lyashenko(CEO)[1]
Industry:Chemical
Founded:1965
Hq Location:100 Kosmonavtov Avenue, Grodno, Belarus
Products:Nitrogen, ammonia, methanol, fertilisers, cleaning, washing, and protective agents

Grodno Azot (Belarusian «Гро́дна Азо́т») is an open joint-stock company, Belarusian state-run producer of nitrogen compounds and fertilizers located in Grodno, Belarus.

History

The construction of temporary auxiliary facilities started in October 1960. In January 1965, the first lines of Ammiak-1 and Karbamid-1 workshops were put in operation. In October 1970, Grodno Nitrogen and Fertiliser Plant was transformed into Grodno Chemicals Plant named after Siarhei Prytytski. In May 1975, it was transformed into Grodno Production Association Azot named after Siarhei Prytytski.

In August 2000, the association was changed into a unitary enterprise and in 2002 it became OJSC Grodno Azot. [2]

Sanctions

In 2006, the United States imposed sanctions against nine Belarusian companies including Grodno Azot and its affiliate[3] Grodno Khimvolokno for "undermining the democratic process”. In October 2015, the sanctions were partially lifted.[4]

After the falsified Belarusian Presidential elections on August 9, 2020, Grodno Azot workers joined the opposition protests and national strike; however, many were detained and beaten by the police on multiple occasions.[5] [6]

In 2021, the United States reported that the sanctions against Grodno Azot can be renewed.[7] On 30 March 2021, Grodno Azot's subsidiary announced a tender for the shipment of its goods. One of the terms of the tender was the possibility of not marking the affiliation of the cargo with the Grodno Azot. It was caused by the threat of sanctions, according to the tender documentation and media.[8]

In April 2021, full-scale US sanctions against Grodno Azot and Grodno Khimvolokno were renewed.[9] [10] [11] On 9 August 2021, the US has added Grodno Azot CEO Igor Lyashenko to the SDN list.[12]

In September 2021, several Grodno Azot workers were detained.[13] New arrests were associated with the threat of Alexander Lukashenko that workers who reveal the ways of bypassing the sanctions would be put in jail for a long time.

In December 2021, European Union sanctioned Grodno Azot and Grodno Khimvolokno.[14] Switzerland joined the EU sanctions on December 20.[15]

In 2022, Japan[16] [17] and Ukraine[18] joined the sanctions against Grodno Azot.

In 2023, several sanctions circumvention schemes involving companies registered in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Serbia and Lithuania were identified as a result of journalistic investigations by the Belarusian Investigative Center and Siena.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

On February 21, 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg rejected the claim of Grodno Azot and its subsidiary Khimvolokno, which had demanded the lifting of the European sanctions.[24]

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. https://azot.by/en/press-center/news/news.php?ID=2204 The new General Director of JSC "Grodno Azot", Igor Lyashenko, was introduced to the company’s staff
  2. Web site: История предприятия ОАО "Гродно Азот" . https://web.archive.org/web/20100228175137/http://www.azot.by/about/history.html. 2010-02-28.
  3. Web site: Кто попал в пятый пакет санкций ЕС: полный список . 2021-12-29 . 2021-12-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211229202211/https://officelife.media/news/29467-pyatyy-paket-sanktsiy-es-protiv-belarusi-soglasovan-/part6/ . dead .
  4. Web site: Санкции против Белоруссии . 15 February 2016.
  5. Web site: ru. "Рабы, все равно будете на нас работать». Как бастуют и разгоняют протесты на «Гродно Азоте". 2020-10-30. BBC News Russian. 2020-11-12.
  6. Web site: Протесты в Беларуси: в Гродно ОМОН применил слезоточивый газ против демонстрантов . ru.
  7. https://newgrodno.by/society/vozobnovit-sanktsii/ США хотят возобновить санкции 2015 года против Беларуси. В списке есть «Гродно Азот» и «Гродно Химволокно»
  8. Web site: «Гродно Азот» применяет мошеннические схемы, чтобы уйти от санкций . 2021-04-03 . 2021-07-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210723215948/https://charter97.org/ru/news/2021/4/3/417276/ . dead .
  9. https://belsat.eu/en/news/21-04-2021-economic-expert-explains-how-u-s-sanctions-may-affect-belarusian-state-owned-enterprises/ Economic expert explains how U.S. sanctions may affect Belarusian state-owned enterprises
  10. https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions/20210419 Issuance of Belarus General License 2H
  11. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210419-us-reimposes-sanctions-on-belarus-firms-after-protest-clampdown US reimposes sanctions on Belarus firms after protest clampdown
  12. Web site: 9 August 2021. Treasury Holds the Belarusian Regime to Account on Anniversary of Fraudulent Election. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809161340/https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0315. 9 August 2021. 10 August 2021. United States Department of the Treasury. en.
  13. https://www.currenttime.tv/a/belarus-zaderzhivayut-rabochie-zabastovka-vyasna/31474407.html В Беларуси задерживают рабочих, которые заявляли о забастовках на своих предприятиях – "Вясна"
  14. Web site: 2 December 2021. EU, UK, US, Canada issue coordinated sanctions against Belarus regime. Deutsche Welle.
  15. Web site: Searching for subjects of sanctions . State Secretariat for Economic Affairs .
  16. Web site: Japan introduces further sanctions on Russia and Belarus . 2022-04-24 . 2022-04-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220424194648/https://sanctionsnews.bakermckenzie.com/japan-introduces-further-sanctions-on-russia-and-belarus/ . live .
  17. Web site: 資産凍結等の措置の対象となるベラルーシ共和国の個人及び団体 . 2022-04-24 . 2022-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327043626/https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/international_policy/gaitame_kawase/gaitame/economic_sanctions/ukraine_list_belarus_20220311.pdf . live . ja .
  18. Web site: Grodno Azot OJSC. National Agency for Prevention of Corruption.
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYUc8LEHXvQ
  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiEXmvExh3M
  21. https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/tiriant-galima-trasu-kontrabanda-apeinant-sankcijas-muitine-sulaike-15-vagonu-su-kroviniu-56-2014372
  22. Web site: БРЦ: «Гродно Азот» обходит санкции, экспортируя удобрения в ЕС через Узбекистан и фирмы-прокладки. OCCRP. 2023-10-02. ru.
  23. Web site: Литовский бизнесмен признался в контрабанде удобрений от «Гродно Азот». Newgrodno.by. 2023-03-06. 2023-04-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20230414200540/https://newgrodno.by/business/litovskij-biznesmen-priznalsya-v-kontrabande-udobrenij-ot-grodno-azot/. ru.
  24. Web site: Case T-117/22: Judgment of the General Court of 21 February 2024 — Grodno Azot and Khimvolokno Plant v Council. Publications Office of the European Union.

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