Updated at 18:27,12-11-2024

Russia puts Uralkali chief under house arrest

RFE/RL

Vladislav Baumgertner, the CEO of Russian potash producer Uralkali, has been put under house arrest in Moscow.

A Moscow court on December 10 ordered Baumgertner released from a pretrial detention center and placed under house arrest.

Baumgertner was arrested in Minsk in late August, days after he withdrew his company from a joint venture with a Belarusian state company.

Belarusian authorities charged him with abuse of office and embezzlement and placed him under house arrest in Minsk.

A Moscow court later issued an order for Baumgertner's arrest on similar charges and demanded his extradition.

Belarus agreed to extradite him to Russia after a change in Uralkali's ownership structure demanded by Minsk.

The collapse of the Russian-Belarusian potash sales cartel severely affected Belarusian state revenues and caused a row between Minsk and Moscow.