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Belarusian investigators might open criminal case against Uralkali owner Kerimov

Belarusian Investigative Committee spokesperson Traulko said that "no special knowledge of law is required to understand how investigators might classify Kerimov's actions"

Photo ITAR-TASS/Stanislav Krasilnikov

Photo ITAR-TASS/Stanislav Krasilnikov

MINSK, August 29 (Itar-Tass) - Belarusian investigators said they have grounds for opening a criminal case against businessman Suleiman Kerimov, the key owner of Russia's Uralkali company.

"The documents received by the Investigative Committee give the reasons for opening a criminal case against Suleiman Kerimov and other persons, including Belarusian citizens, and putting these persons in custody or on the police wanted list," Belarusian Investigative Committee spokesperson Pavel Traulko told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

Traulko added that "no special knowledge of law is required to understand how investigators might classify Kerimov's actions." However, the Investigative Committee spokesman refused to name even a tentative date of initiating criminal proceedings.

Pavel Traulko told on Wednesday that Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner stands accused and is under arrest.

“Baumgertner has the legal status of an accused and was placed under arrest as a measure of restriction,” said the spokesman for the Investigative Committee, thus disproving the earlier information that Baumgertner had been detained for 72 hours, not arrested.

Traulko pointed out that the Uralkali CEO had been accused of abuse of power and of office position under the appropriate article of the Criminal Code of Belarus. According to Belarusian legislation, a person can be held under arrest for preliminary investigation no longer than two months. The arrest can be extended if the investigation is not concluded in the allotted time and there are no reasons to change or drop the measures of restriction. Meanwhile, the measure of restriction can be changed within these two months, also through a complaint to court.

It was earlier reported that the lawyers of the Uralkali CEO on Tuesday lodged a complaint against the measure of restriction appointed to him. “The court will discuss the complaint in an established procedure,” he said.

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