On September 13 and October 18, the Belarusian Investigative Centre published investigations on how Amkodor owner Aliaksandr Shakutsin continues to tradein machinery fitted with sanctioned components in Russia and Belarus, ultimately making a profit despite the embargo imposed by the EU and the US: "Bulldozing through sanctions. How Aliaksandr Shakutsin, owner of Amkodor, earns money despite embargo", "Shakutsin vs Sanctions. Manufacturers left Belarus and Russia market, but the equipment remains".
Assets owned by people and companies from the sanctions lists can be frozen if located on US territory. The same applies to organizations in which 50% of shares are owned by sanctioned firms or individuals. Collaborating with the entities listed may result in being subjected to secondary sanctions.
15 days before Shakutsin's inclusion in the sanctions list, the BIC received a letter from one of the businessman's structures. The letter stipulated that we remove all materials concerning the entrepreneur and his enterprises from our online resources, with the threat of legal action.
This is not the first time BIC journalists have received such messages.
Reporters Shield, a programme that safeguards investigators worldwide from legal threats used by investigation subjects to conceal the truth from the public, assists investigative journalists in dealing with such situations.
The membership fee is $2500 per year. If you wish to support our payment of membership fees to Reporters Shield, you can do here.
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