washington trump administration must decide end month whether grant belarus continue relief u.s. economic sanction despite stiff government crackdown street demonstrations last month renewal decision consider low-level priority administration face big question u.s. relations russia china major diplomatic position still unfilled whether unite state renew sanction relief instead return blacklist nine major belarus company early test trump administration importance put human right versus efforts coax countries russia orbit turn west sanction waivers begin 2015 extend twice last year tie domestic political reform intend encourage belarus long historical tie russia move close european union unite state however u.s. officials alarm arrest hundreds people last month attempt hold street protest capital minsk concern continue sanction relief could see ignore crackdown belarus authorities last month raid human right group offices use violence peaceful protesters right group say recent crackdown sharpen people focus say u.s. congressional aide speak condition anonymity real question whether sanction reimpose decision must take end april administration make decision sanction re-imposed nato members include poland baltic state feel threaten see increase russian intervention europe include moscow annexation ukraine crimea region 2014 belarus important strategic point view dependent economically russia really concern say piotr wilczek polish ambassador unite state belarus become part wide russian problem have trump administration incline renew sanction relief likely would wait last minute make sure anything awful say u.s. official also speak condition anonymity state treasury department officials decline comment detail belarus sanction belarus ministry foreign affairs decline comment president george w. bush 2006 blacklist top belarus officials include president alexander lukashenko undermine country democratic process human right abuse unite state late add large belarus company sanction list 2015 lukashenko release political prisoners indicate open good relations west october president barack obama temporarily lift sanction nine belarus company include petrochemical conglomerate belneftekhim tire manufacturer belshina however lukashenko appear keep country firmly moscow orbit letter last week four u.s. senators say concern crackdown decide allow russia conduct provocative military exercise belarus late year belarus crackdown throw u.s. sanction relief doubt