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 A public joint-stock company, abbreviated PJSC (, abbreviated ) or open joint-stock company, abbreviated OJSC (, abbreviated ), is a type of company in many successor states of the Soviet Union, particularly in Russia. Its distinguishing featur ...

Grodno Azot.

Sanctions

In 2006, the United States imposed sanctions against nine Belarusian companies including Grodno Azot and its affiliate Grodno Khimvolokno for "undermining the democratic process”. In October 2015, the sanctions were partially lifted. 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. In 2021, the United States reported that the sanctions against Grodno Azot can be renewed. 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. In April 2021, full-scale US sanctions against Grodno Azot and Grodno Khimvolokno were renewed. On 9 August 2021, the US has added Grodno Azot CEO Igor Lyashenko to the SDN list. In September 2021, several Grodno Azot workers were detained. New arrests were associated with the threat of

Alexander Lukashenko Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko (also transliterated as Alyaksandr Ryhoravich Lukashenka; born 30 August 1954) is a Belarusian politician who has been the first and only president of Belarus since the office's establishment in 1994, making hi ...

that workers who reveal the ways of bypassing the sanctions would be put in jail for a long time. In December 2021,

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

sanctioned Grodno Azot and Grodno Khimvolokno. Switzerland joined the EU sanctions on December 20. In 2022, Japan and Ukraine joined the sanctions against Grodno Azot. In 2023, several sanctions circumvention schemes involving companies registered in

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains, Pamir mountain ranges. Bishkek is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Kyrgyzstan, largest city. Kyrgyz ...

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and

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

were identified as a result of journalistic investigations by the

Belarusian Investigative Center The Belarusian Investigative Center (BIC) is an independent media outlet from Belarus that operates in exile. The center offers five core types of content: investigative journalism, fact-checking, analytical reporting, news, and economic analysis. ...

and Siena. In October 2024, it was reported that Grodno Azot products were being supplied to Ukraine under the guise of being produced in

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...

through a company registered in the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...

. On February 21, 2024, the

Court of Justice of the European Union The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ( or "''CJUE''"; Latin: Curia) is the Judiciary, judicial branch of the European Union (EU). Seated in the Kirchberg, Luxembourg, Kirchberg quarter of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, this EU ins ...

in Luxembourg rejected the claim of Grodno Azot and its subsidiary Khimvolokno, which had demanded the lifting of the European sanctions.

References

Bibliography

Официальный сайт

Гродненское производственное объединение «Азот» им. С. О. Притыцкого

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Belarus: Amid vicious crackdown on peaceful protesters, authorities arrest workers planning strike
Grodno Grodno region Companies of Belarus Chemical industry Chemical engineering organizations Belarusian entities subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions Chemical companies of the Soviet Union Chemical companies of Belarus

History

Sanctions

See also

References

Bibliography