Minsk Automobile Plant sold to Deripaska?

The Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) might have been sold to the Russian oligarch. A buyer is probably Oleg Deripaska, a Vladimir Putin’s close friend.

Analysts of the site Expertby.org think the first signs that the Belarusian MAZ was being prepared for sale appeared in late December last year, after official Putin’s visit to Belarus.

An unusual property inventory has recently been taken at the MAP. Instead of formal signing the documents, real inspection and revised estimation of the property of the enterprise were carried on.

The experts cuncleded that Oleg Deripaska may be a purchaser from the following facts:

Lately the administration of the enterprise has made too many visits to Nizhniy Novgorod, Gorki Automobile Plant (GAZ), owned by Deripaska, to have different meetings.

On 3 January (official day-off in Russia) MAZ was visited by a quality control manager of the Zavolzhsky Motorny Zavod, a part of Deripaska’s business empire.

Besides, there are some signs, that quality system may be changed on the plant. The already mentioned visit of the quality control manager of the Zavolzhsky Motorny Zavod and the leaked information that controllers will be removed from conveying system allow to suppose it. Deripaska’s plants use another system: there are no sanctions for low quality, but incentives for good work and improving of manufacturing process.

Why is Deripaska so brave to take the Belarusian business field, not bewaring of rules changing during the game, that is so typical of Belarus and discourages global capital? He was evidently given certain guarantees, the experts conclude. They suppose, the issue on guarantees could be discussed at the December meeting between Putin and Lukashenka.