Vladislav Baumgertner, the CEO of Uralkali Group of companies has been placed under arrest in Belarus. The detention took place straight after the appointment with Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovitch. Apart from Vladislav, Alexander Voloshin, the Chairman of Uralkali’s board and shareholder Suleyman Kerimov were also invited to the reception. However, due to the busy schedule these two officials were not able to arrive in Belarus; thus, they evaded unwanted problems. The entrepreneur is accused of “committing an official misconduct for his own profit that has resulted in a considerable damage to Belarus’ state and public interests and also has entailed damage in an especially big amount to Joint Stock Company Belaruskali and Belorussian Potassium Company. Such lawsuits are being framed at a rapid pace by the Belorussian law-enforcement authorities against other Uralkali’s executives. The problems broke out after denial of Lukashenko’s request to purchase Belaruskali at good $30 billion while the company’s market value does not exceed $15 billion by the lavish estimate. Being unable to reach a compromise with the government and personally with President Lukashenko, Uralkali gradually put an end to the partnership with Belorussian Potassium Company. “We have already applied to Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russia’s consulate to prompt the problem’s solution and immediate release of the CEO,” a Uralkali’s spokesman announced for the media. An official from Russia’s consulate in Belarus has not made any comments on the current situation with the Russian businessman’s detention.
