Regime’s “wallets” use Latvian banks

Despite the EU sanctions against a number of Belarusian businessmen, they are able to cooperate with Latvian banks.

This is how a political observer Raman Jakauleuski commented for the charter97.org web-site on the speech by the governor of Minsk region Barys Batura at II Latvian-Belarus forum of twin cities in Daugavpils. He emphasized that in 2012 the trade turnover between the countries has reached a record level close to $3.5 billion.

“About two thirds of Belarusian sea export goes through Latvia. Lukashenka benefits from the competition between Riga and Vilnius for the transit of cargo from our country. Such competition exists. First of all it concerns the port, through which Belarusian goods will be exported. The decision to purchase 30% of the terminal in Klaipeda encouraged the visit of Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevichs to Vitebsk in April. He met Uladzimir Makej. According to some information, the initiative for this came from Riga, for which economic cooperation with Minsk, in particular the transit of Belarusian cargo, is very important.

It should be noted that from 14 to 16 May the president of Latvia Andris Berzinsh was in Ashkhabad. Among the questions discussed there were ones on the issues of the transit of energy resources from Turkmenistan through Latvia. These cargo traffic may go, among others, through Belarus”, - Raman Jakauleuski told.

The political observer reminded that cooperation between Minsk and Riga does not only concern cargo transit.

“The financial sphere should also be considered. Latvian banks are used by major Belarusian businessmen and their organizations. The ones under the effect of international sanctions may be among them. It is known that Uladzimir Pefcieu, for example, appealed against that decision of the EU. According to some EU officials the sanctions against his businesses have been frozen until the European court makes a decision.  

Riga also did not conceal that due to the introduction of a tax on deposits in Cyprus the workload has greatly increased for banking organizations. Latvian banks are quite popular. I think, they had the assets of Belarusian businesses too, including those, under the sanctions”, - Raman Jakauleuski said.