Andrei Suzdaltsev: Uralkali doesn't want to tolerate BPC's swindles endlessly

The breakup of the world's biggest potash cartel shows that economic integration of Belarus and Russia seems impossible.

Politologist Andrei Suzdaltsev spoke to charter97.org about Uralkali's decision to stop exports through the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC).

“I'd like first to touch on the aspect of economic integration. BPC, to a certain extent, was one of few examples of the Belarusian-Russian economic integration. Of course, the breakup of the company is a strong blow to the opinion that Belarus and Russia are able to integrate economically. They cannot do it, because the states have completely different economic systems,” the expert thinks.

The politologist stressed that Uralkali's decision to stop cooperation with the Belarusian party was a strategic one, because Belarusian partners are incompetent, terms are not implemented and everything is controlled by one person – Lukashenka.

“It's clear that it wasn't possible to continue cooperation in such conditions. It is a very primitive medieval management with the only aim to deceive the partner and get money. That was done. Uralkali calculated the risks and intentionally chose huge losses and decrease in capitalisation to stop cooperation with Belarusians. It is a very unpleasant fact,” Andrei Suzdaltsev said.

He is confident that the situation of Uralkali's quit from BPC is a model.

“They are not fools who just refused to cooperate. No, they've got tired of Belarus's constant swindles with Lukashenka being the top of the pyramid. It is a serious blow to Belarus's image and politics. The situation poses a threat to the development of economic integration and especially the implementation of five so widely discussed projects,” the expert says.

The Board of Directors of Uralkali recently took a decision to stop export sales through the Belarusian Potash Company.