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Arrested former head of petrochemical industry conglomerate may be released this week

Ihar Zhylin, the former head of the Belarusian State Petrochemical Industry Concern (Belnaftakhim), is expected to be released this week as investigators have found no evidence proving his guilt, the newspaper Belorusy i Rynok reported on Tuesday with reference to a source familiar with the situation.

Mr. Zhylin was arrested as a result of "indirect accusations" made by the director of a petrochemical company who had allegedly discovered financial problems at the company following his appointment to the position, said the source.

Mr. Zhylin, 73, was arrested on a charge of abuse of office on July 1, according to media reports.

The Council of Ministers removed Mr. Zhylin from the position of Belnaftakhim chairman by its June 30 directive.

Born in Russia’s North Ossetia, Ihar Zhylin was a member of Russia’s legislature between 1990 and 1993. He appears not to have lived in Belarus until his appointment as director general at state-owned chemical company Hrodna Azot in August 2009. He became Belnaftakhim chairman on February 4, 2011.

The Russian embassy said in July that Mr. Zhylin was no longer a citizen of Russia. // BelaPAN