The foreign Ministry of Belarus has commented on the detention of presidential candidate Babariko
States of the European Union should look at the background of the criminal case against former Chairman of the Board of Belgazprombank, an opposition politician Victor Babariko. The Minister of foreign Affairs of Belarus Vladimir Makey said on June 19 in comments to the Russian edition “Kommersant”.
On June 18, the EEAs, the EU issued a statement demanding the immediate release of Babariko and his son Edward, who is the head of his campaign, and to ensurefairness, transparent and impartial investigation and the right to access to a lawyer.
According to Makei, in the case of Babariko we are talking about serious financial irregularities.
“The tax evasion and money laundering are serious crimes for which in the EU are punished very seriously in any country. Here, despite the passing of a political campaign, no one will be allowed to violate the law. And there is concrete evidence, by the way, received from European countries, including EU countries, that certain persons were engaged in illegal activities,” – says the Minister.
Babariko for 20 years he directed the “the BGB”, whose shareholders are the Russian “Gazprombank” and “Gazprom”. He left this position in may 2020, when he decided to run for the presidency. On 18 June Babariko and his son was detained.
According to investigators, Babariko was the organizer of the illegal actions of the Bank, tried to influence witnesses, to hide the traces of crimes. General Prosecutor’s office opened a criminal case under part 2 and part 3 of article 285 of the Criminal code of Belarus (creation of a criminal organization or participation in it). The Belarusian KGB claimed that the activities of Babariko involved “puppeteers” from among the “big bosses “Gazprom” and the expenses are not connected with the election campaign in Belarus, which is scheduled for August 9th presidential elections.
On June 18 in Minsk held a protest against the persecution of opposition politicians – the citizens formed a human chain and stood there for more than six hours.
