Russia expects Belarus to soon hand over the general director of Russia's Uralkali potash-producing company, according to presidential foreign-policy adviser Yury Ushakov.
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on September 23, said on September 19 that Vladislav Baumgertner could be extradited to Russia if Moscow joined in the investigations against him and the ownership of Uralkali was changed to restore stronger Belarusian commercial links.
Baumgertner, a Russian citizen, was arrested in Minsk last month and charged with abuse of office.
The move sparked tensions between Belarus and Russia.
Baumgertner was chairman of the Belarusian Potash Company (BKK), a now-defunct joint venture between Uralkali and a Belarusian potash firm, Belaruskali.
His announcement in July that Uralkali was leaving BKK led to a steep drop in the commodity's price, affecting the Belarusian economy.
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on September 23, said on September 19 that Vladislav Baumgertner could be extradited to Russia if Moscow joined in the investigations against him and the ownership of Uralkali was changed to restore stronger Belarusian commercial links.
Baumgertner, a Russian citizen, was arrested in Minsk last month and charged with abuse of office.
The move sparked tensions between Belarus and Russia.
Baumgertner was chairman of the Belarusian Potash Company (BKK), a now-defunct joint venture between Uralkali and a Belarusian potash firm, Belaruskali.
His announcement in July that Uralkali was leaving BKK led to a steep drop in the commodity's price, affecting the Belarusian economy.
