Kremlin: Process of Baumgertner's release drags on

Russia expect the issue on Baumgertner's extradition to be settled in the near future.

The Kremlin says the process of extradition of Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner from Belarus drags on and hopes the problem will be solved in the nearest time, Interfax news agency quotes the president's aide, Yuri Ushakov.

“We expect the Russian citizen to be handed over to Russia. The process drags on a bit,” Ushakov told journalists on Friday.

“Lukashenka's remark he made yesterday allows us to hope that the issue will be settled in the near future.”

Lukashenka said Thursday he didn't rule out the possibility of Baumgertner's extradition to Russia if “Russian law-enforcement bodies carry out a proper investigation in accordance with the law”.

“If Russian investigators are interested in the extradition of the Russian citizen we detained, I don't see any special obstacles here. We don't insist on holding him here,” he said.

Alexander Zvyagintsev, the deputy prosecutor general of Russia, was invited to a meeting with Lukashenka.

Vladislav Baumgertner was detained at the Minsk airport on August 26 after a meeting with Belarusian PM Mikhail Miasnikovich. The Belarusian Investigation Committee charged him with abuse of power (part 3, article 424 of the Criminal Code). Baumgertner may face up to 10 years in prison and confiscation of property.