Some 150 paintings worth of $20 mln seized in Belgazprombank case - TV
MINSK. June 15 (Interfax) - Some 150 paintings worth of $20 million have been seized in relation to the Belgazprombank case.
"A hundred and fifty paintings with a total value nearing $20 million have been included in materials in the proceeding," the state-run television channel Belarus 1 said.
According to the channel, there were plans to move those paintings abroad. "Reportedly, they were being prepared for urgent exportation. By the way, the actual cost of those assets might be much higher. One can only guess for how much they could have been sold at auctions," the presenter said.
The Belarusian State Control Committee said last Thursday that it was conducting a search at Belgazprombank in the context of criminal cases.
According to the agency, "representatives of commercial enterprises and former and incumbent employees of the banking system are designated as suspects in the criminal case."
"This individual [aspirant for presidency and former head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko] does not have a procedural status in this criminal case so far," it said.
Babariko said at a press conference in a later period that the situation surrounding the bank had a political flavor. "I assert nothing but the conclusion suggests itself: the ongoing activity has the nature of a political order," he said.
According to the former Belgazprombank head, the Belarusian authorities have no comprising materials, which could implicate him directly, so they put pressure on his circle.
It was reported on social media on Friday that Belgazprombank executives had been removed from office. The Belarusian National Bank declined to comment on the information.
Later on, Belgazprombank's shareholders - Gazprombank and Gazprom - made a joint statement and confirmed the decision of the Belarusian National Bank to replace the Belgazprombank administration.
"The said actions committed in gross violation of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus and of the Treaty on the European Economic Union (signed in Astana on May 29, 2014) have a direct impact on the rights and legitimate interests of Russian shareholders in Belgazprombank and the interests of its customers and depositors," it says.
"The shareholders in Belgazprombank will seek protection of their rights and lawful interests, using all legal remedies available. They are also taking all possible measures to safeguard the interests of the bank's customers and to ensure its financial stability," Gazprom and Gazprombank said in their statement.
Belgazprombank has operated in Belarus since 1990. Gazprom and Gazprombank each own 49.8% in the bank.
Babariko was in charge of Belgazprombank from the middle of 2000 until May 2020 when he announced the intention to run for president. After that, the Belgazprombank Board of Directors appointed Deputy Chairman of the Management Board Kirill Badei as the acting Management Board Chairman.
Belgazprombank is known in Belarus for helping repatriate paintings by Belarusian members of the School of Paris
The corporate collection of Belgazprombank comprises over 100 artifacts. Its core is works by artists from the School of Paris. The collection is part of the national historical and cultural project Art Belarus. Thirty-five exhibits were put on the state list of Belarusian historical and cultural valuables.
The presidential election is scheduled to take place in Belarus on August 9.