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Russian embassy warns against drawing conclusions in Uralkali case based on Belarusian media reports

 

It is premature to draw conclusions about the performance of potash producer Uralkali’s shareholders and managers based on Belarusian media reports, the Russian embassy in Belarus said in its reply to a mock petition that it received in September.

Fourteen residents of the Mahilyow and Homyel regions demanded mockingly in their petition that Russia compensate Belarus for the actions of Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner and top shareholder Suleiman Kerimov, who have been accused by Belarusian law enforcement agencies of causing more than $100 million worth of damage to Belarus.

In its reply to the petitioners’ leader, Alyaksey Pawlowski, the Russian embassy called for withholding judgment until the Investigative Committees of Belarus and Russia made public their findings in the case.

The diplomatic mission said that Mr. Baumgertner was held in a detention center in Moscow pending the establishment of all circumstances in the case.

“Understanding your concerns and the importance of the development of the potash industry to the Belarusian economy, the Russian embassy is following the situation attentively,” said the letter.

When reached by BelaPAN, Mr. Pawlowski, an independent trade union activist, said that Russia would not bow to Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s demand that $100 million in compensation be paid to Belarus. //BelaPAN