{"id":210032,"date":"2026-11-02T12:28:12","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T09:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/210032\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T12:28:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T09:28:15","slug":"belarusian-woman-sentenced-to-prison-in-usa-for-allegedly-bypassing-sanctions","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/210032\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarusian woman sentenced to prison in USA for allegedly bypassing sanctions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 2, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>A federal court in Washington D.C. has sentenced a Belarusian national to one year and one day in prison for allegedly exporting \u201cnumerous avionics and other aircraft equipment\u201d from the United States to a company in Russia in violation of Washington\u2019s sanctions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Russia was waging war against Ukraine, Jana Lavonava was smuggling US-origin aircraft components to a company ultimately blacklisted by the US government, US Attorney\u2019s Office, District of Columbia, said in a press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The woman used shell companies, false documentation, foreign intermediaries, and overseas bank accounts to conceal the unlawful exports and evade US sanctions, US Attorney Pirro was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut no matter how complex the scheme or how many jurisdictions it crossed, investigators followed the evidence and brought her to justice,\u201d the press release said. \u201cAnyone who seeks to exploit U.S. supply chains to support hostile regimes and undermine our national security should take note: we will find you, pursue you across borders, and hold you accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 34-year-old Lavonava, \u201cwho has most recently resided in Russia,\u201d pleaded guilty on May 20 before the Honorable Loren L. AliKhan to violating the Export Control Reform Act. In addition to the 12-month prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Leonova to be deported to Belarus following completion of her prison sentence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to court documents and admissions during the plea hearing, following Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lavonava and her US and Armenian co-conspirators procured aircraft components from US-based distributors and unlawfully exported them from the United States to Russia via Armenia, which resulted in dozens of aircraft components being shipped to Russia and millions of dollars being paid in return.\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lavonava and her co-conspirators devised the transshipment route to conceal that US-origin components were bound for Russia and to evade US export controls, the press release said. Using companies located in Armenia, they allegedly re-exported the components to Russia without the required licenses from the US Department of Commerce, in violation of federal law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exported items were for use on private jets and other aircraft operated or maintained by Lavonava\u2019s former employer, a company identified on the US Department of Commerce\u2019s Entity List for engaging in or enabling activities contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests, the press release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November 2025, Lavonava was extradited to the United States from France in connection with this case.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year ago, Washington lifted its sanctions on Belarus\u2019 national airline Bie\u0142avija after American diplomats had secured the release of more than 50 designated political prisoners during talks with Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka. Bie\u0142avija\u2019s director announced last week that the carrier now hopes to purchase spare parts, components and software as well as acquire new planes directly from Boeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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