US targets seven Belarus national carrier planes for violating export controls

The US Commerce Department on Thursday confirmed it had identified seven Boeing 737 Planes operated by Belarusian national carrier Belavia that are in apparent violation of US export controls. The seven Belarusian-operated aircraft are the first to be identified since restrictions on Belarus were tightened last week. The Commerce Department said restrictions that bar them from operating services abroad should effectively ground them from future international flights. The list of planes subject to\The list of planes subject to restrictions, imposed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now includes 146 Russian-owned or operated aircraft and seven Belarusian aircraft. Belavia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The export controls bar companies around the world from providing any refueling, maintenance, repair, or spare parts or services to the identified airplanes. The Commerce Department actions are part of the Biden administration's response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which the department said Belarus has enabled and supported.<br/>