Ex-head of Belnaftakhim released early from prison

Alyaksandr Barouski, former head of Belarus' Belnaftakhim petrochemical conglomerate sentenced to five years in prison in March 2008 for abuse of office, was released from the Babruisk labor camp on December 22, Bulletin online reported.   The reasons for his release are unclear. Barouski spent about 18 months in custody since his arrest on May 29, 2007.