Belarus: potash row threatens hopes of Russian funding | beyondbrics

Belarus: potash row threatens hopes of Russian funding | beyondbrics:

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The behaviour of Belarus’s authorities is looking increasingly chaotic. On the one hand, law-enforcement agencies risk infuriating Moscow by arresting the chief executive of Uralkali, the Russian potash miner. On the other, the government’s financial team says it plans to appeal to Moscow for more funding.

Belarus has been locked in an escalating dispute with Russia over potash since July, when Uralkali pulled out of a joint venture cartel with Belaruskali, sending potash prices plummeting and, with them, Belarus’s national income.

The Belarusian Investigative Committee said on Monday it had filed criminal charges against Suleiman Kerimov, a Russian tycoon who is Uralkali’s biggest shareholder. Kerimov is accused of “abuse of power and official authorities” – an offence that could be punished by up to 10 years in prison and confiscation of property."

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