Uralkali CEO Baumgertner detained in Minsk

The Investigation Committee of Belarus accuses Vladislav Baumgertner of abuse of power.

The accusations are related to his activity as the chairman of the supervisory board of the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC), a joint trader of Belaruskali and Uralkali. The Russian company recently refused to export potash through BPC.

Vladislav Baumgertner, Uralkali CEO, is accused of abuse of power. He has been taken into custody. Four employees of the Belarusian Potash Company have been put on the international wanted list, Interfax news agency reports.

“The Investigation Committee of Belarus is investigating criminal cases initiated by the Prosecutor General's Office under part 3 of article 424 (Abuse of power) against executive officers of the Belarusian Potash Company: supervisory board chairman Vladislav Baumgertner, supervisory board member Oleg Petrov, first deputy general director Konstantin Solodovnikov, financial affairs deputy general director Igor Yevstratov, head of the freight department Dmitry Samoylov and others,” the Investigation Committee says.

The criminal cases were initiated in connection with the information about “abuse of power inflicting gross harm to the state and public interests of Belarus and causing large-scale losses to Belaruskali and BPC,” the Investigation Committee reports.

“On the base of the available evidence and other facts the Investigation Committee has issued orders to present charges against the above-mentioned persons. BPC Supervisory Board chairman Baumgertner has been detained and taken into custody,” the Investigation Committee informs. “Petrov, Solodovnikov, Yevstratov, Samoylov have been put on the international wanted list, also on Interpol's wanted list.”

Photo: vedomosti.ru