Russian Embassy confirmed arrest of former Belneftekhim head

The Russian Embassy in Minsk confirmed detention of the former chairman of Belneftechim concern Igor Zhilin.

“In accordance with the established procedure we were informed about detention of Igor Zhilin, however, from him personally, his lawyer or his family there were no requests to visit him. We know that he was detained, but we will meet only when such a request is received,” said first secretary of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Belarus Gavriil Mamontov, Radio Svaboda informs.

It is the only official confirmation of the arrest of the former Belneftekhim concern head. Before that none of the institutions involved in the case of Zhilin commented on it.

A criminal case was initiated against Igor Zhilin on charges relating Article 424 “Abuse of power or authority.”

Charter97.org website was the first to inform about the arrest of Igor Zhilin, chairman of the concern. Zhilin was detained on July 1 and placed to the remand prison.

Igor Zhilin, who turned 73 in January this year, was born in Ordzhonokidze (Vladikavkaz now). He was appointed to the position of the head of the concern on February 4, 2011. Earlier he headed Grodno Azot joint-stock company (since Auguast 11, 2009). In 1990-1993 he was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of Russian Federation, deputy chairman of the Committee of the Supreme Soviet on Issues of Economic Reform and Property. Since 2003 he worked as a technical adviser of “SredneAzGaz” (Moscow), since 2006 he was the first deputy of the CEO of AO “Energy Invest” (Rustavi, Georgia).