Belarusian Oil Executive Charged With Corruption

Barouski headed the petrochemical firm, Belnaftakhim (epa) MINSK, June 25, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Prosecutors in Belarus say they have charged the former head of the country's state-run oil processing company with corruption and other offenses, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported.

Belarusian Prosecutor-General Pyotr Miklashevich said Alyaksandr Barouski, who headed the Belarusian State Petrochemical Industry Concern (Belnaftakhim) had been charged with embezzlement, abuse of office, and disclosing state secrets.

Miklashevich told a press conference in Minsk that the charges were related to crude and petroleum deliveries.

Barouski was arrested last month along with several other heads of state-run and private companies.

Belnaftakhim accounts for more than one-fourth of Belarus's exports.

In connection with the same case, Miklashevich said two officers in Belarus's KGB and one police officer have been arrested and charged with taking bribes.

(with material from agency reports)