Interior Ministry Accuses Russian Officials Of ‘Discrediting’ Belarusian Cheese

The Interior Ministry of Belarus is holding a series of pre-investigative checks upon the facts of “discrediting of the domestic manufacturers”.

This has been informed by the Ministry’s press-center.

“In the aims of prevention of damaging the economic interests of the Republic of Belarus, the formations for fighting against the economic crimes at the internal affairs bodies are conducting a series of pre-investigative checks upon the actions containing the features of crimes prescribed in Article 249 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (“discrediting business reputation of a competitor”), - the representatives of the Interior Ministry say.

The necessary proceedings are carried out, as well as the checks of the financial-economic activities of the processing enterprises with the involvement of the State Control Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and other concerned institutions.

“The Interior Ministry of the Republic of Belarus has the information that some officials of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russia, in the interests not connected with their professional activity, without sufficient reason, and in violation of the norms of the international law limited the opportunities for realization of the Belarusian products at the territory of the Russian Federation, disseminated false information, thus discrediting our domestic manufacturers,” - the Interior Ministry has underlined.

In particular, according to the decisions made by the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, only in Minsk region, as a result of the limited shipments from 96 agricultural enterprises, the direct losses made over Br5 million.

“A profound check will be held with regard to every material, and the collected evidence will be forwarded to the Investigatory Committee of Belarus for a legal assessment procedure,” – the representatives of the Ministry have clarified.

The Ministry has reminded that Article 249 of the Criminal Code (the discrediting of a competitor’s business reputation) means dissemination of false information damaging the business reputation of a competitor by an individual businessman or an official of a legal entity, in advertising, media and other means, and is punishable by a fine, or correctional labor for a term of up to two years, or an arrest for up to three months, or restraint of liberty for up to two years.