Bills from Belarusian dictator’s holidays on mountain resorts go public (Photo)

The holidays Alyaksandr Lukashenka had in the Alps eight years ago are at the center of a corruption scandal in Austria.

The host party used a secret bank account to pay for the visit in circumvention of the law. Lukashenka’s tour cost 200,000 euros. The case is being investigating by Austrian prosecutors now.

Austrian journalist and sports expert Erwin Roth traced the issue. Asked by the newspaper “Nasha Niva”, he sent copies of some receipts from 2002 Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s holidays in the Alps.

According to the receipt from five stars hotel Kosterbrдu, 17 members of the Belarusian delegation stayed there. The suite for the Belarusian ruler cost more than 700 euros per day. There also ski and ice hockey equipment rental receipts. It should be noted that the bills were paid by the National Olympic Committee of Austria.

It can be understood from a receipt that Lukashenka got a hip injury when skiing and was taken to a local hospital by an emergency helicopter. The flight cost 7260 euros (66 euros per minute).

Medical examination cost 100 euros, an X-Ray examination – 200, hip MR imaging – 585. These expenses were also paid by the Austrian party.

In total, the Austrian holidays of Lukashenka and his delegation cost about 200,000 euros. Such a huge sum is a result of Lukashenka’s habit to rest with a big company, relatives and inner circle.

The rental of airplanes and organizing a charity ice hockey tournament to benefit Chernobyl disaster victims were the most costly (all expenses were paid by the Austrian party).

From a political point of view, accepting a gift of 200,000 euros is unethical and corrupt for a president.

There are questions what the Austrian party was guided by when giving such a generous present to the Belarusian dictator.

It’s not a surprise that the Austrian organizers, namely Casinos Austria company, were not very honest hosts.

An official invitation for Alyaksandr Lukashenka was sent to then president of the Austrian National Olympic Committee and co-owner of Casinos Austria network Leo Wallner. Undoubtedly, Wallner’s interests were not restricted only by cooperation in sport, he wanted to expand business ties with Belarus. Casinos Austria is a big company, the biggest Austrian taxpayer. As Erwin Roth found out during his investigation, Leo Wallner decided to pay for his guest’s holiday by means of a secret bank account bypassing the Austrian laws.

The truth has been revealed audits and examinations have been started in Austria. The influential Austrian paper Die Presse writes:

“Mr Roth opens his red folder. It contains bills and receipts telling a story of Lukashenka’s luxury tour and Austrian NOC secret account opened in 2001 in Raiffeisen Bank on an initiative of Leo Wallner. On March 3, 2002, the ruler, his wife (which? – notice of charter97.org), sons, and retinue arrived in Tyrol for 14 days. The holidays cost about 200,000 euros. The company stayed in two beautiful hotels near casinos. Lukashenka scored three goals in the charity hockey tournament to benefit Chernobyl disaster victims. Popular DJ Otzi joined the event costing of 47,000 euros. Roth collected the receipts to pay for hotels, ski, and bungalows. For example, Rosskopfhutte bungalow: March 16, 2002, rental price 1006.40 euros, 70 bottles of alcohol ordered. A hand-written notice is made on the receipts “Casinos Austria. Austrian NOC”.

Austrian Kurier writes:

“According to our information, former president of the Austrian NOC and director of Casinos Austria Leo Wallner may have more relations to the scandal than it have seemed earlier. In late 2001, Wallner opened a secret account held in the name of the Austrian NOC. Millions of euros were placed on it during several years. Moreover, in early 2002, the account was used to transfer money to lobby interests of Casinos Austria, in particular to invite the Belarusian ruler in March 2002. For a politician, dubbed by the international community “the last dictator of Europe, for the outrageous human rights situation in Belarus, it was a luxury tour.

As Die Presse writes referring to Erwin Roth, Wallner chose the NOC to invite Lukashenka to Austria because the EU officials are banned from having official contacts with the dictator.