Russian Investigative Committee started criminal proceeding against Uralkalij CEO

Vladislav Baumgertner is accused of abuse of office.

The Investigative Committee of Russia on Monday, October 14, instituted criminal proceedings against Vladislav Baumgertner, director general potash producer, bringing closer the prospect of the executive`s return from Belarus to Russia, BelaPAN said.

According to the Investigative Committee, criminal proceedings have also been instituted against Konstantin Solodovnikov, an Uralkalij executive who held the position of first deputy director general at Belarusian Potash Company (BPC), and "other people." All of the executives are suspected of abuse of office.

The law enforcement agency reportedly opened the criminal case after studying evidence passed by Belarusian investigators.

"The case file [passed by Belarus] suggests that while performing their managerial functions at business entities, the said managers abused their powers, using them contrary to the lawful interests of these entities and for the purpose of obtaining benefits and advantages for other people, which entailed considerable harm and grave consequences for Belarusian Potash Company and Belaruskalij," said the Investigative Committee.

The agency said that it planned to apply to the Belarusian authorities for the extradition of Mr. Baumgertner to Russia and may also arrest other Uralkalij executives under investigation in the case.

Recently Belarus has changed the charges against Vladislav Baumgertner from abuse of office to embezzlement,

Talking to Russian journalists in Minsk on October 11, Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka said the charges were changed based on new evidence that had emerged. He also said Belarus was ready to extradite Baumgertner to Russia if Moscow wants to investigate the case, saying Baumgertner caused "more damage to Russia than to Belarus."

Let us recall that Mr. Baumgertner was arrested on August 26 as he was about to fly out of Minsk after a meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Miasnikovich. A few days later, Belarusian authorities instituted criminal proceedings against Russian billionaire and other Uralkalij's top executives. On September 16, Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Aleksandr Zvyagintsev announced that the Investigative Committee of Belarus would hand over the investigation of the criminal case to the Russian Prosecutor General's Office. Later on Minsk City Court rejected an appeal against district judge's refusal to order the release of Uralkalij CEO; However, later on Vladislav Baumgertner moved to house arrest on the night of 26 September, hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to arrive in Belarus to observe a joint military exercise.