Marat Novikov on Baumgertner's case: A failure of Russian special services

We have contacted Marat Novikau by his American phone number. The businessman is still preserving secrecy – he has refused to give us his Skype login. He is okay now, Novikau said.  He is about to sign new contracts with German confectioners and he can only thank the Belarusian authorities for taking his business away from him. Otherwise, he would still be on the same level.

Euroradio: Do you know about Baumgertner’s detention in Minsk? You were invited to a meeting with high-ranking officials too…

Marat Novikau: Your comparison has made me laugh.  My level is far lower that the level of the director-general of Uralkali. I am far less important that the Russian oligarch arrested by the Belarusian authorities. In my opinion, they are walking on air. I think that arresting the director-general of Uralkali in Belarus is a crime. If he has committed a crime, he should be arrested by the Russian authorities.

Euroradio: What caused the arrest?

Marat Novikau: I can imagine it. Nobody could say no. There was an outburst of anger. And nobody could resist it. I do not think that the crime is serious enough to invent such a scheme. They wanted to show the Belarusian lawlessness to the whole world. It only proves that I did the right thing in a similar situation. I wouldn’t have been able to leave Lukashenka’s meeting if I had come. All the actions of the Belarusian authorities should be based on something. They want to show the people that he is a swindler. Sometimes it is enough to call someone a swindler to arrest him.

Euroradio: Why did Baumgertner come to Minsk? Didn’t he know anything about the case started against him?

Marat Novikau: The Russian special services have failed. They had to know about the operation aimed at arresting such important people. Secondly, no one could imagine it. I think that many people including Putin and Medvedev are shocked now.

Euroradio: What will happen next?

Marat Novikau: Russia will react. Not now, but it will react later. Such things cannot be forgiven.

Euroradio: How will Baumgertner’s arrest affect the attitude of foreign business and investors to Belarus? Will anything change?

Marat Novikau: Everyone understood everything about Belarus long ago. People who make money legally understand everything. They will not come to Belarus. Belarus is so unpredictable that it is impossible to make any forecasts or assess anything.

Head of Uralkali Vladislav Baumgertner was detained at the airport in Minsk after a meeting with PM Mihail Myasnikovich on Monday. The director-general of Uralkai did damage to Belarus’ national interests, the Investigative Committee claimed. He is accused of power abuse and is facing up to 10 years of imprisonment and confiscation of property. The losses he caused to the Belarusian Potash Company reach $100 million, the Investigative Committee reported.

Vladislav Baumgernter is also head of the supervisory council of the Belarusian Potash Company. A number of BPC managers are wanted by Interpol now.

Photo: nv-online.info