MINSK, October 21 (RIA Novosti) – Belarus is ready to hand over to Russia the CEO of fertilizer giant Uralkali if he compensates for damage done, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Monday, the same day that Russia issued an arrest warrant for the businessman.
Vladislav Baumgertner, a Russian citizen, was detained in Belarus in August on suspicion of abuse of office. Last month, the Belarusian president said the businessman could be extradited to Russia as long as his activities are duly investigated.
“A thief must sit in jail,” Lukashenko said Monday. “Before greater damage is done, let him provide compensation.”
He said it was important to “close the issue as soon as possible, get to the bottom of it and punish the guilty parties.”
Later on Monday, a Moscow district court issued an arrest warrant for Baumgertner.
The warrant was issued at investigators’ request, as Baumgertner is on an international wanted list, a Baumansky District Court spokeswoman said, adding that the warrant will be in force until he is handed over to Russian law enforcement.
Last week, Russia’s Investigative Committee announced that it had filed abuse of office charges against Baumgertner, and that the Russian authorities were preparing to submit documents for his extradition from Belarus.
On October 11, Lukashenko said that Baumgertner would be charged with embezzlement, which in Belarus carries a maximum penalty of 12 years behind bars, rather than abuse of office, which is punishable by up to 10 years in jail.
Baumgertner was detained in the Belarusian capital Minsk in August and taken into custody. In September, he was released from prison and placed under house arrest.
The charges followed a July decision by Uralkali, a leading producer of potash fertilizer, to dissolve its international cartel with its Belarusian counterpart Belaruskali, sending potash prices spiraling down.
Lukashenko said on October 11 that Russia and Belarus should restore the cartel and that he had requested his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin’s help on the issue. The Kremlin did not comment on Lukashenko’s statement.
