Protests in Switzerland against Soyuzkali registration

Members of the Swiss parliament try to figure out if it is possible to prevent the appearance of Lukashenka's company in the country.

The media report about plans of the Belarusian authorities to register Soyuzkali firm in the Canton of Zug. It will be a joint Belarusian-Russian venture with Belaruskali and Uralkali companies owning 50% of shares each.

Under the laws of the Canton of Zug, the details will be kept in secret until the end of the official registration process, Radio Svaboda reports.

According to  Нandelszeitung, due to the joint ownership and Swiss registration address,  Alyaksandr Lukashenka will be able to avoid sanctions and make profit without obstacles by selling Belarus's main resource – potash fertilizers. Besides, the new company, which will be controlled by Minsk, will have more possibilities to receive loans due to its residence in Switzerland. The Swiss registration address will also give a more favourable tax regime.

The Swiss government declines to give comments to journalists. Meanwhile, members of the Swiss People's Party and the Green Party insist that members of the Zug government should find out if it is possible to prevent the appearance of Lukashenka's firm in Switzerland. If there are no such possibilities, legislation should be changed, they think.