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The funds frozen at Citibank have not yet been transferred to Belarus. Work to unfreeze the money is ongoing. This was stated by Belarus’ Permanent Representative to the UN, Valiantsin Rybakou, following a briefing to Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
“We are currently working to unfreeze this amount so that it can be transferred to Belarus,” he said, BelTA reports.
In September, Aliaksandr Lukashenka said that $43–44 million had been frozen at Citibank. The money had been paid by an American buyer of Belarusian potash. A month ago, during a meeting with Lukashenka, US President’s Special Envoy John Coale said he would help resolve the issue of unfreezing the funds.
Rybakou also noted that this was not the only amount of money that remained frozen.
“There was a second outstanding debt as well. It is being repaid and will be fully paid off by the end of this year. No one disputes that this is Belarusian money and that it must be returned. It will be returned. The process takes some time, but the issue is being resolved,” he said.
Rybakou concluded by noting that in the month since Coale’s visit, only one issue had been fully resolved: the lifting of sanctions on the head of Belaruskali.