Term of investigation of Baumgertner's case prolonged by 2 months - Investigative Committee
MINSK. Oct 28 (Interfax) - The investigative bodies of Belarus have prolonged the term of the investigation of the criminal case involving Uralkali General Director Vladislav Baumgertner.
"The term of the investigation of the criminal case regarding Baumgertner has been prolonged by two months. The measure of restraint in the form of house arrest remains unchanged," top spokesman for the Investigative Committee of Belarus Pavel Traulko told Interfax on Monday.
Baumgertner was detained in Minsk in late August. The Belarusian Investigative Committee accused him of the abuse of office, an offense punishable by up to ten years in prison. Baumgertner was moved from the State Security Committee's detention facility to a Minsk apartment and placed under house arrest on September 25.
Belarus said that the illegal operations of Baumgertner and some other top managers of the Belarusian Potash Company inflicted damage of $1.5-2 billion on Belarus. Lukashenko said they could transfer Baumgertner to Russia after the damage done to Belarus was repaid.
Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said on October 14 they had opened a criminal case against Baumgertner on counts of abuse of office.
He also said on October 14 that the Russian Investigative Committee was preparing documents for the extradition of the Uralkali general director.
The Moscow Basmanny Court ordered the arrest of Baumgertner in absentia on October 21.