Lukashenka's “money bag” gets access to EU market

Three companies representing interests of Alyaksandr Mashenski have received access to the EU dairy market since July 1.

It's an interesting fact that Brussels recently tried to declare Mashenski persona non-grata due to his contacts with Lukashenka's family.

On June 18, the EU Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health okeyed raw milk and dairy products supplies from Belarus to the EU market for four Belarusian companies. “Starting from July 1, 2012 export licenses are provided to four Belarusian enterprises: OJSC Verkhnedvinsk Butter-cheese Plant, JC Santa Bremor, JSC Berezovsky Cheese-making Plant and JSC Savushkin Product. In 2009-2011 these enterprises have undergone several rigorous inspections by Commission’s experts, which attested their compliance with EU regulations on food safety,” TUT.by quotes a press release of the Embassy of Belarus in the Netherlands.

It should be noted that Santa Bremor and  Savushkin Product companies are main assets of businessman Alyaksandr Mashenski. PRIME agency said in November 2011 that Santa Bremor increased its stake in Berezovsky Cheese-Making Plant to 13.6% by purchasing a block of shares from Beltyazhmash plant at $1.2m. The state owns a 40.6% stake  in Berezovsky Cheese-Making Plant. The rest shares belong to agricultural companies and individuals. The plant director, Uladzimir Papenya, said recently that foreign investors were interested in buying the plant adding it was a kind of competitive tender. “But I don't know how the state will act and who will be allowed. There are a Dutch company, the EBRD, a Swiss manufacturer among potential investors,” BelaPAN news agency cites Papenya.

A piquant moment in this positive story is plans to impose EU travel ban on Alyaksandr Mashenski. Some weeks ago, EUobserver called the Brest businessman among those who may be hit by sanctions. Mashenski discredited himself by being “instrumental in Lukashenka's 2010 presidential election campaign and is said to rank as the number three most influential tycoon behind Peftiev and Chizh”, EUobserver runs. In 2010, the businessman was among election agents for Alyaksandr Lukashenka during the presidential election.