MINSK, November 13 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Embassy in Minsk has sent a second request for a meeting with the detained chief executive of Russian potash giant Uralkali because the first request was left unanswered, an embassy official said Tuesday.
“We haven’t received an official response and have sent another request to the [Belarusian] Foreign Ministry,” said Igor Karyagin, head of the embassy’s consular service.
Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner was detained in Minsk in August after his potash fertilizer producer unexpectedly withdrew from a cooperation agreement with its Belarusian counterpart, causing a steep drop in prices and sparking a political dispute.
Baumgertner was charged with abuse of office in mid-October, and a Moscow court has issued a warrant for his arrest. Russia requested his extradition from Belarus earlier this month.
Some observers have suggested that the Russian investigation could be a way of getting Baumgertner back home before dropping the charges against him.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier said the CEO could be extradited to Russia, provided that he face criminal charges and that financial damages be covered.
Uralkali has claimed that Belarus’ allegations against Baumgertner are politically motivated.
