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BelOMO

Coordinates: 53°55′1″N 27°37′17″E / 53.91694°N 27.62139°E / 53.91694; 27.62139
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BelOMA
Company typeopen joint-stock company
Industryinstrumentation engineering
FoundedJuly 15, 1954; 70 years ago (1954-07-15) in Minsk
FounderDefence Ministry of the USSR
Headquarters
Minsk
,
Belarus
Area served
30 countries
Key people
Aliaksandr Ivanavich Maroz
Productselectronics
OwnerMinistry of Industry of Belarus
Number of employees
2597 (2017)
ParentMinistry of Industry of Belarus
Websitebelomo.by/en/

BelOMA (Belarus Optical & Mechanical Association; Belarusian: Беларускае оптыка-механічнае аб'яднанне, Bielaruskaye optyka-miehanichnaye ab'yadnannie[1]; Russian: BelOMO or Belorusskoe Optiko-Mechanichesckoye Obyedinenie - Беломо or Белорусское оптико-механическое объединение) is the leading optoelectronic device producer in Belarus, founded in 1954 as the Minsk Mechanical Factory.

Agat-18k half-frame camera made by BelOMO
BelOMO 10× achromatic triplet loupe
Thermal vision sights

The main factory opened in Minsk 1957 and was named after the Soviet physicist Sergey Ivanovich Vavilov (1891–1951). At first, BelOMA made photographic equipment and lens-making machinery for state use. It now manufactures a wide range of products, including military and consumer optical products. During the 1980s it produced the Agat-18 and Agat-18K half-frame 35mm cameras, still popular among Lomographic photographers.

A joint venture with German optics maker Zeiss was begun in 1995 and ended 2023/24. The firm produces lenses and optical elements for microscopes and other optical equipment with ISO 9001 certification.

MMZ—BelOMA factory estimates its global market share in optical sights, rangefinders and NVDs at 2-3%, with 10% of Russian market and 80% of local market.[2] The factory also produces gas meters, car units, infra-red emitters, juicers and other civil products.[2]

International sanctions

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In 2022, BelOMA was blacklisted by the European Union, the US, Switzerland and Japan, in response to Belarus's enabling of and support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3]

In May 2023, Ukraine imposed sanctions against several BelOMO subsidiaries[4][5] On July 1, 2023, Ukraine further blacklisted the CEO of BelOMA Alexander Moroz, the director of the STC "LEMT" Alexey Shkadarevich and several enterprises of the association.[6] In August 2023, BelOMA was also blacklisted by Canada[7] and the United Kingdom.[8] On December 5, 2023, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has added BelOMO, LEMT BelOMA and Zenit BelOMA, another BelOMA subsidiary, as well as their Directors general, Moroz, Shkadarevich and Gaichuk, to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.[9]

In April 2024, Dzmitry Mikhaltsou, the technical director of the Vavilov Plant, was also added to the SDN list.[10] In June 2024, BelOMO, Moroz, LEMT BelOMO and JSC Zenit BelOMA were added to the European Union's sanctions list.[11] In July, Switzerland,[12] Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Ukraine[13] joined these sanctions; New Zealand blacklisted BelOMA and Moroz in September.[14] On August 23, 2024, the United States announced sanctions against yet another BelOMA subsidiary, the Diaproektor plant, as well as its director and two deputy directors.[15]

Following sanctions, BelOMA has obtained parts and supplies from several Chinese companies.[16]

Camera models

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References

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  1. ^ Пра холдынг // BelOMA Holding, 2025
  2. ^ a b Информационный меморандум Archived 2020-06-22 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  3. ^ "BelOMO Holding". National Agency on Corruption Prevention. Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  4. ^ "UNITARY ENTERPRISE "NTC "LEMT" BELOMO"". National Agency on Corruption Prevention. Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  5. ^ "ВАТ "ММЗ ІМЕНІ С.І.ВАВІЛОВА – КЕРІВНА КОМПАНІЯ ХОЛДИНГУ "БІЛОМО"". National Agency on Corruption Prevention. Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  6. ^ "Белорусский академик попал под украинские санкции". Narodnaja Volya (in Russian). 2023-07-01. Archived from the original on 2023-07-07. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  7. ^ "Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations: SOR/2023-178". Canada Gazette. 16 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  8. ^ "UK sanctions six Belarusian companies". Interfax. August 8, 2023. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "Treasury Targets Belarusian Revenue Generators for Lukashenka, Human Rights Abuses, and Cogs in Russia's War Machine". United States Department of the Treasury. December 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "Treasury Targets Belarusian Sanctions Evasion Networks and Cogs in Russia's War Machine". United States Department of the Treasury. April 15, 2024. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1738 of 24 June 2024". EUR-Lex.
  12. ^ "Ukraine: Switzerland adopts further sanctions against Russia". Federal Council of Switzerlandn.
  13. ^ "Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine". Council of Europe.
  14. ^ "Russia Sanctions Amendment Regulations (No 4) 2024". New Zealand Legislation.
  15. ^ "New Measures to Degrade Russia's Wartime Economy". United States Department of State. 2024-08-23.
  16. ^ "China companies supply Belarus defense contractor with Russia ties". Nikkei Asia. July 24, 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
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53°55′1″N 27°37′17″E / 53.91694°N 27.62139°E / 53.91694; 27.62139

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