MINSK, August 26 (RAPSI) – Vladislav Baumgertner, chief executive officer of Uralkali, the world's largest potash producer, has launched an appeal challenging his detention in Belarus earlier this week.
"The lawyers have filed three applications [with the court], the central of which concerns changing of the measure of restraint," a spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Belarus said Wednesday. A hearing is expected to be held next week, the source added.
Baumgertner was detained in Minsk on Monday and charged with abuse of power, according to the Belarusian Investigative Committee. According to the Belarusian authorities, the criminal case was launched as the result of a probe into abuse-of-power allegations that led to grave damage to the public interests of Belarus, as well as damages to the Belarusian Potash Company.
Uralkali reacted swiftly, blaming Belarusian authorities for the incident. "We are surprised with what has happened and consider it a provocation," the Prime business news agency quoted Uralkali representative Alexander Babinsky as saying.
Belarusian law limits the period of investigation into the criminal case to two months, but it may be prolonged at any time if necessary.
