Kremlin demands immediate release of Baumgertner

The Russian president's aide made a statement over the arrest of Uralkali CEO.

Russia expects Vladislav Baumgertner to be released in the nearest time, Russian president's aide Yury Ushakov said.

“We demand to release him immediately and expect the Belarusian side to do it in the nearest time,” Interfax news agency quotes him as saying at a briefing on Friday.

The Investigation Committee of Belarus charged Baumgertner with abuse of power. He may face up to 10 years in prison.

Russian diplomats had visited Uralkali CEO in the KGB remand jail today. Officers of the Russian embassy gave him personal belongings and water.

Before the arrest, Vladislav Baumgertner arrived in Belarus at the invitation of the country's prime minister Miakhail Miasnikovich.

The same invitations were sent to chairman of Uralkali's Board of Directors Alexander Voloshin and company's shareholder Suleyman Kerimov.