BelOMO
{{Short description|Belarusian producer of optoelectronic instruments}}
{{Infobox company
| name = BelOMA
| logo =
| logo_caption =
| logo_upright =
| logo_alt =
| type = open joint-stock company
| industry = instrumentation engineering
| founded = {{Start date and age|1954|07|15}} in Minsk
| founder = Defence Ministry of the USSR
| fate =
| hq_location_city = Minsk
| hq_location_country = Belarus
| area_served = 30 countries
| key_people = Aliaksandr Ivanavich Maroz
| products = electronics
| owner = Ministry of Industry of Belarus
| num_employees = 2597
| num_employees_year = 2017
| parent = Ministry of Industry of Belarus
| website = {{URL|belomo.by/en/}}
}}
BelOMA (Belarus Optical & Mechanical Association; Belarusian: {{lang|be|Беларускае оптыка-механічнае аб'яднанне}}, {{transliteration|be|Bielaruskaye optyka-miehanichnaye ab'yadnannie}}[https://belomo.by/by/company/ Пра холдынг] // BelOMA Holding, 2025; 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.
File:BelOMO 10× achromatic triplet loupe 1.jpg triplet loupe]]
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.[http://www.gki.gov.by/upload/new%20structure/info%20for%20investors/oao_more/100185185.docx Информационный меморандум] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622042404/http://www.gki.gov.by/upload/new%20structure/info%20for%20investors/oao_more/100185185.docx |date=2020-06-22 }} {{in lang|ru}} The factory also produces gas meters, car units, infra-red emitters, juicers and other civil products.
International sanctions
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.{{cite web|url=https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/sanction-company/2444/|title=BelOMO Holding|publisher=National Agency on Corruption Prevention|access-date=2024-07-25|archive-date=2024-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322093135/https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/sanction-company/2444/|url-status=live}}
In May 2023, Ukraine imposed sanctions against several BelOMO subsidiaries{{cite web|url=https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/sanction-company/9417/|title=UNITARY ENTERPRISE "NTC "LEMT" BELOMO"|publisher=National Agency on Corruption Prevention|access-date=2024-07-25|archive-date=2024-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322080319/https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/sanction-company/9417/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/sanction-company/9918/|title=ВАТ "ММЗ ІМЕНІ С.І.ВАВІЛОВА – КЕРІВНА КОМПАНІЯ ХОЛДИНГУ "БІЛОМО"|publisher=National Agency on Corruption Prevention|access-date=2024-07-25|archive-date=2024-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322012525/https://sanctions.nazk.gov.ua/en/sanction-company/9918/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|title=Белорусский академик попал под украинские санкции|url=https://nv-online.info/belorusskij-akademik-popal-pod-ukrainskie-sankcii.html|work=Narodnaja Volya|date=2023-07-01|language=ru|access-date=2023-07-09|archive-date=2023-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707173355/https://nv-online.info/belorusskij-akademik-popal-pod-ukrainskie-sankcii.html|url-status=dead}} In August 2023, BelOMA was also blacklisted by Canada{{cite web|url=https://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2023/2023-08-16/html/sor-dors178-eng.html|title=Regulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations: SOR/2023-178|publisher=Canada Gazette|date=16 August 2023|access-date=2024-07-25|archive-date=2024-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725224206/https://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2023/2023-08-16/html/sor-dors178-eng.html|url-status=live}} and the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/93379/|title=UK sanctions six Belarusian companies|work=Interfax|date=August 8, 2023|access-date=July 25, 2024|archive-date=September 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908192503/https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/93379/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1949 |title=Treasury Targets Belarusian Revenue Generators for Lukashenka, Human Rights Abuses, and Cogs in Russia's War Machine |publisher=United States Department of the Treasury|date=December 5, 2023}}
In April 2024, Dzmitry Mikhaltsou, the technical director of the Vavilov Plant, was also added to the SDN list.{{cite web |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2251 |title=Treasury Targets Belarusian Sanctions Evasion Networks and Cogs in Russia's War Machine |publisher=United States Department of the Treasury |date=April 15, 2024 |access-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-date=June 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625220915/https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2251 |url-status=live }} In June 2024, BelOMO, Moroz, LEMT BelOMO and JSC Zenit BelOMA were added to the European Union's sanctions list.{{cite web|url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1738/oj|title=Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1738 of 24 June 2024|publisher=EUR-Lex}} In July, Switzerland,{{cite web|url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-101793.html|title=Ukraine: Switzerland adopts further sanctions against Russia|publisher=Federal Council of Switzerlandn}} Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Ukraine{{cite web|url=https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/07/10/statement-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-eu-on-the-alignment-of-countries-concerning-restrictive-measures-in-respect-of-actions-undermining-or-threatening-the-territorial-integrity-sovereignty-and-independence-of-ukraine/|title=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|publisher=Council of Europe}} joined these sanctions; New Zealand blacklisted BelOMA and Moroz in September.{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2024/0190/latest/whole.html|title=Russia Sanctions Amendment Regulations (No 4) 2024|publisher=New Zealand Legislation}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/new-measures-to-degrade-russias-wartime-economy/|title=New Measures to Degrade Russia's Wartime Economy|publisher=United States Department of State|date=2024-08-23}}
Following sanctions, BelOMA has obtained parts and supplies from several Chinese companies.{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2024 |title=China companies supply Belarus defense contractor with Russia ties |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Ukraine-war/China-companies-supply-Belarus-defense-contractor-with-Russia-ties |access-date=2024-07-25 |work=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}
Camera models
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|title=Belarusian Optical and Mechanical Association|url=http://belomo.by/en/}} BelOMO website
- {{cite web|title=Zeiss BelOMO|url=http://www.zeiss-belomo.by/|language=be}} Website of Zeiss BelOMO joint venture
{{coord|53|55|1|N|27|37|17|E|region:BY_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{Expand Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)|Беларускае оптыка-мэханічнае аб’яднаньне|date=April 2025}}
Category:Manufacturing companies of the Soviet Union
Category:Optics manufacturing companies
Category:Photography in the Soviet Union
Category:Organizations based in Minsk
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1971
Category:Belarusian entities subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions