Russian diplomats allowed to see Baumgertner

Representatives of the Russian Embassy were allowed to visit Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner, who was placed under house arrest.

Interfax-West news agency learnt it on Friday from Igor Karyagin, the chief of the consular section at the Russian Embassy in Minsk.

“Permission to meet with Baumgertner was received. The date of the visit is being arranged,” Karyagin said.

According to earlier reports with a link to the embassy of Russia, Russian diplomats asked the Belarusian authorities on Tuesday for a meeting with Baumgertner.

Under the current legislation, the request was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then to the body investigating the criminal case. “We expect to receive an answer to our request within 72 hours,” the Russian embassy said.

Baumgertner was detained in Minsk in late August. The Belarusian Investigation Committee charged him with abuse of power (part 3 of article 424). He may face up to 10 years in prison. Baumgertner was released from the KGB jail and put under house arrest on Thursday. He is now in a flat in Minsk.

Belarusian investigative bodies think the illegal actions by Vladislav Baumgertner and a number of top managers of the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) inflicted damage of 100 million dollars to Belaruskali and BPC.

Photo: RIA Novosti