Belarus may put pressure on arrested Uralkali director
MOSCOW. Aug 28 (Interfax) - The Belarusian authorities may put pressure on Vladislav Baumgertner, the head of the Belarusian Potash Company's supervisory board and general director of the Russian potash miner Uralkali, who was detained in Minsk on Monday, says former Belarusian opposition leader and presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.
"The situation is absolutely wild. A man invited by the prime minister [Mikhail Myasnikovich] should be under protection. I am not even talking about the rules of hospitality," Sannikov told Interfax over the phone from Poland on Wednesday.
"I think the situation will not develop in accordance with the law but in line with some understandings. I don't rule out serious pressure" on Baumgertner, he said.
In addition, by arresting Baumgertner, Minsk is apparently trying to blackmail Moscow and the Uralkali management, he said.
Sannikov, a former presidential candidate in the 2010 elections, was convicted in a criminal case dealing with mass unrest in Minsk on the election day on December 19, 2010. After being freed from jail, Sannikov was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom.
The Belarusian Investigative Committee announced on August 26 that it uncovered a criminal scheme of enrichment of the Belarusian Potash Company management, including Baumgertner, who was detained at the Minsk airport. Belarus claims that the embezzlement scheme yielded approximately $100 million.
Baumgertner's arrest was the cause of Russia's outrage.
