No hindrances for extraditing Vladislav Baumgertner to Russia

There are no hindrances that prevent the extradition of Vladislav Baumgertner to Russia.

BelTA learned it from Prosecutor General of Belarus Alexander Konyuk on 14 November.

“As the Prosecutor General I don’t see hindrances that prevent the extradition of Vladislav Baumgertner to Russia. Everything will be done within the framework of the Criminal Procedure Code,” the official told media.

In early November the Office of the Prosecutor General of Belarus received the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia for extradition of Vladislav Baumgertner. “The documents are being examined and processed. In line with the law we will give an answer,” said the Prosecutor General.

Alexander Konyuk stressed that in Russia Vladislav Baumgertner faces charges similar to those pressed by the Belarusian side.

Vladislav Baumgertner was arrested by Belarusian law enforcement agencies on 26 August. He faced charges specified by part 3, article 424 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus: abusive exercise of power and abuse of office. Later on pre-trial restrictions for Vladislav Baumgertner were replaced with home detention. The Russian side has brought charges against Vladislav Baumgertner in absentia. The charges are stipulated by part 3, article 33 and part 2, article 201 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (abuse of authority with grave consequences).

As part of the investigation into the case of ZAO Belarusian Potash Company criminal charges have been brought against member of the Supervisory Board Oleg Petrov, First Deputy Director General Konstantin Solodovnikov, Deputy Director General for Finance Igor Yevstratov, Head of the Freight Department Dmitry Samoilov. Criminal proceedings were launched upon reports testifying that these people had abused their office powers for selfish goals. The abuse resulted in considerable damage to state and public interests of the Republic of Belarus as well as extraordinary economic damage to OAO Belaruskali and ZAO Belarusian Potash Company. Apart from that, the Investigation Committee of Belarus has named shareholder of OAO Uralkali Suleiman Kerimov as an accused in the investigation into criminal actions committed by the executives of ZAO Belarusian Potash Company. The investigation team classifies Suleiman Kerimov’s actions as the organization of abusive exercise of power and abuse of office (part 4, article 16 and part 3, article 424 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus).