Updated at 13:47,21-10-2024

Authorities intensify pressure on alternative presidential nominee

Euroradio

Authorities intensify pressure on alternative presidential nominee
Privatlizing/Euroradio
Representatives of the Financial Investigation Department on 11 June conducted a search at Privatlizing, an employee of the company told Euroradio.

"Agents of the Financial Investigations Department are currently working at Privatlizing. They have been gathered from all over the country. The search is conducted within a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 243 of the Criminal Code [large-scale tax evasion]," he said.

According to the source, FID officers have Vitsebsk, Hrodna, Minsk written on their uniforms.

The company Privatlizing is associated with Belgazprombank, headed until recently by Viktar Babaryka, the potential presidential candidate. In one of his recent speeches, Alyaksandr Lukashenka rebuked Babaryka with ties with Privatlizing and claimed the money had been moved abroad.

On the morning of June 11th, FID officers came to Belgazprombank office with a search. A criminal case for non-payment of taxes was filed against former and current employees of the bank.

"I'm not claiming it, but the possible conclusion is that today's actions are political in their nature. I believe this is unacceptable," said Viktar Babaryka at a press conference on June 11th.

This is how he commented on the searches that took place today in Belgazprombank, Privatlizing, Kentavr, Campari.

Babaryka admitted that the management of these companies employs the people who were close to him in his previous work at Belgazprombank.

"It's cynical to direct the actions at people because they worked in an organization that I managed, it is utter unscrupulousness. Those people are the best I've ever met. This applies to the staff of Belgazprombank," he stressed.

He said that the last inspection of Belgazprombank was held in January this year, while Privatlizing was checked a little later. Both companies continue their work after the inspection.

On June 11th, the FID reported on a criminal case against Belgazprombank on charges of large-scale tax evasion.