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Potash row was excessively politicized, Russian prime minister says

Belarus' dispute with Russian potash producer Uralkali was "excessively politicized," Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with TV channels on Friday.

"An entire series of events that took place indeed gave this case an excessive political twist," he said, adding that the Russian authorities were looking into the dispute.

Mr. Medvedev recalled that Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner had already been extradited to Russia after nearly three months' detention in Belarus. "Now all investigative activities should be carried out and the objective truth in the case should be established. Whether he violated anything under Belarusian or our laws or not, the most important thing is that it is us who are dealing with that now, not a different country, event if that is our closest partner," he said.

Mr. Medvedev said that the potash row had not affected relations between the two countries in any way.

The Russian prime minister said that Minsk should have complained about Uralkali to the Kremlin before taking any other steps, including arresting Mr. Baumgertner. "They should have originally informed us about their grievances, and we would have dealt with the entire situation as partners," he said.

Mr. Baumgertner, 41, was arrested on August 26 as he was about to fly out of Minsk after a meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich. He spent a month in the KGB detention center in Minsk before being placed under house arrest.

The Investigative Committee of Belarus said that Mr. Baumgertner was suspected of abuse of office and so were four other Russian executives who combined their duties in Belarusian Potash Company and Uralkali.

A few days later, Belarusian authorities instituted criminal proceedings against Russian billionaire and Uralkali's top shareholder Suleiman Kerimov.

The case is linked to Uralkali's July 30 decision to quit Belarusian Potash Company, its joint trading arm with Belarusian potash giant Belaruskali.

The Investigative Committee of Russia instituted criminal proceedings against the executive after receiving evidence from Belarusian investigators.

Mr. Baumgertner was extradited to Russia on November 21. He is currently held in a Moscow jail. //BelaPAN