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Businessman Shawtsow suspected of stealing money from bank account

Influential businessman Viktar Shawtsow is suspected of “stealing” money from a bank account, a spokesman for the Committee for State Security (KGB) said in an interview aired by the Belarus One channel on December 23.

Artur Strekh said that the criminal case against the businessman was opened in October this year. “The criminal proceedings were launched based on information about his involvement in stealing money from a bank account. According to investigators’ preliminary estimates, the amount of the stolen money exceeds $10 million,” he said, adding that Mr. Shawtsow was held in the KGB detention center in Minsk.

Speaking at a news conference in Minsk on Friday, Alyaksandr Lukashenka announced that Mr. Shawtsow would be released if he compensated the state for the damage caused by his criminal actions.

"Since he has caused the damage to the state, he must put twice or thrice as much money onto the table and walk free. If he doesn't pay the money, he will be in prison," the Belarusian leader said.

Mr. Lukashenka said that the businessman was accused of committing an "ordinary economic crime" involving efforts to bring money out of the country and illegal dealings surrounding a construction project in Venezuela. "This is an ordinary criminal case, we have enough of similar ones. There are even more serious criminal cases," he said.

Mr. Lukashenka added that "this mister had come to the attention of law enforcement agencies before" and promised that the public would receive detailed information about the case.

According to unconfirmed reports, Mr. Shawtsow, who owns ZAO Belzamezhbud, a company involved in the construction of housing in Venezuela, was arrested in October or early November together with another high-profile businessman, who was later released.

The arrest may be linked to the operations of Belzamezhbud in Venezuela.

Mr. Shawtsow is said to own stakes in Minsk-based truck maker MAZ-MAN and Dudutki, a popular museum of folk arts and crafts some 40 kilometers south of the Belarusian capital.

Mr. Shawtsow also reportedly owns Trustbank, which had to change its name in 2005 after being accused of money laundering by the United States.

This past summer the Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church presented Mr. Shawtsow with its highest award in recognition of his charity work.