Russian diplomats given permission to meet Baumgertner - Russian Embassy in Minsk
MINSK. Sept 27 (Interfax) - Officials of the Russian Embassy in Belarus have been allowed to meet with Russian potash miner Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner, who was placed under house arrest in Minsk on September 26, Igor Karyagin, director of the embassy's consulate department, told Interfax on Friday.
"Permission for a meeting with Baumgertner has been granted. The time of this meeting is still being discussed," he said.
On September 24, Russian diplomats filed a request with the Belarusian authorities for permission to meet the Uralkali head.
In accordance with Belarusian legislation, their request was forwarded to the Foreign Ministry of Belarus and then to the agency that is handling the inquiry into Baumgertner's case.
"We expect to receive a reply to our request within 72 hours," the Russian Embassy said then.
Belarusian investigators earlier charged Baumgertner with abuse of power, an offence that can carry a sentence of up to ten years in prison.
The Belarusian Investigative Committee announced on August 26 that it had uncovered a scheme to cut state-owned Belaruskali out of decision-making at Belarusian Potash Co., the trading venture that Russia's Uralkali and Belaruskali set up in 2005. Baumgertner, who is also chairman of Belarusian Potash Co., was detained at Minsk Airport. The Belarusian authorities have estimated damages and losses caused as a result of this scheme at approximately $100 million.
On Thursday, Baumgertner was transferred from a Belarusian State Security Committee remand center to a rented apartment in Minsk where he was placed under house arrest.
