Belarusian television threatens to bring Russian business to heel (Video)

Lukashenka's propaganda reports that “big oligarchs” were defeated in Belarus.

Following Lukashenka's scandalous remarks about “Russian rascals”, ONT TV channel showed yesterday a story titled “Russian media 'sell' Kerimov's stake in Uralkali”. The state-owned TV channel thinks that the Russian business is looking for a compromise in the so called potash problem. That's how the Belarusian propaganda interprets Suleiman Kerimov's plans to sell his stake in Uralkali, the statement that was refuted by the company management.

However, the ONT experts said commenting on the news: there's no smoke without fire.

“If Russian media tell the truth, businessmen Vladimir Kogan, Mikhail Gutseriyev and Vladimir Yevtushenkov run in the race for Kerimov's stake. But analysts consider Arkady Rotenbergto be a favourite. A Doctor of Education and a successful businessman, Rotenberg dealt with banks, industry, hotels, roads and gas pipelines construction. He appeared in the fertilisers market two years ago after buying Minudobreniya company in Voronezh region.

Will Rotenberg and Kerimov come to an agreement? It's unknown yet. It's more important to look at Uralkali from a different angle. The company has published interesting data. Its net revenue for the first half of the year reached $397mn, but fell 53% compared to the same period in 2012,” the TV channel assures.

ONT showed comments by official “experts”.

Mikhail Kavalou, the dean of the Faculty of Economics at BSU, said: “Events in the potash market remind me the words by Russia's prominent writer Solzhenitsyn: 'The Oak and the Calf'. No matter how big, an oligarch cannot fight against the state, even such a small state as Belarus. The conflict between Uralkali owner, between Uralkali management and Belarus demonstrates it.”

Many financial analysts say Uralkali shares will definitely be bought. Now conditions will be set not by Kerimov, who is on the international wanted list.”

Politologist Pavel Patapeika noted: “It is unacceptable that oligarchs of any country can infringe on our national and economic interests and dictate their will. This is the main lesson from the potash scandal.”

The Belarusian TV channel makes a conclusion:

“What is more, the Russian media have begun to speak more often that Uralkali can return to the merger with Belarusian potassium manufacturers and to the old strategy, when price means more than the volume of sales. Belarus doesn't rule this possibility, but without Kerimov and thus without criminality.”

Alexander Voloshin, the chair of Uralkali's Board of Directors, said yesterday at an online conference with Uralkali's top managers that the company had no plans of cooperation with Belaruskali.