Belarus’ presidential hopeful Viktor Babariko detained on suspicion of involvement in Belgazprombank’s money laundering schemes
<p> MINSK, Jun 18 - PrimePress. Former head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko, who is now considered as one of the key rivals of Alexander Lukashenko in the forthcoming presidential elections in Belarus, has been detained on suspicion of alleged involvement in Belgazprombank’s criminal case, chairman of the State Control Committee (SCC) of Belarus Ivan Tertel told reporters on June 18. </p> <p> </p> <p> “The SCC Financial Investigations Department (FID) has initiated a number of criminal cases under Article 243 (large-scale tax evasion), Article 235 (legalization of criminal funds), Article 210 (large-scale theft), Article 209 (fraud), as well as under Article 430 (bribery) and Article 431 (bribe giving). We have detained about 20 people who directly participated in illegal activities, including Babariko. Babariko was detained in connection with the fact that he was the direct organizer and leader of the illegal activity, tried to influence the testimony of witnesses, made attempts to hide the traces of the crimes committed and just recently withdrew a large amount of money from the accounts under his control,” said Tertel. </p> <p> </p> <p> In his words, a number of Belgazprombank officials were found to be involved in the organization of schemes related to the actual coercion of citizens to obtain loans in their own name with the subsequent transfer of money and provision of citizens with these funds for interest. “There have been documented numerous facts of bribes received by the bank officials for granting loans to entrepreneurs and persons “with a poor credit history”, he said. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Work is under way on a number of fronts, including the fraudulent manipulation of bills of exchange worth more than US $60 million,” he said. As a result, large amounts of foreign currency have been deposited into foreign accounts by members of the criminal group under their control. In addition, we have tracked down [money] laundering schemes, which were used to </p> <p> withdraw large amounts of foreign currency to foreign banks” to the accounts of dependent institutions, Tertel said. </p> <p> </p> <p> In his words, one of such dependent institutions was Latvia’s ABLV Bank (in early 2018, the European Central Bank decided to liquidate it – editor’s note). “According to our Latvian colleagues, over $430 million has been withdrawn from Belgazprombank accounts in several years for the benefit of this bank alone,” said Tertel. He said that Latvian law enforcement authorities promptly responded to queries and tracked in the accounts of ABLV Bank the money, which belonged to current employees of Belgazprombank, including deputy head of Legal Department Shevchuk. “He would follow Babariko’s direct instructions, establishing legal entities in offshore territories and maintained their operations,” Tertel said. </p> <p> </p> <p> The SCC official claims that “practically all those detained cooperate with the investigation, make confessions, including about the leading and organizing role of the former head of Belgazprombank in these criminal schemes.” </p> <p> </p> <p> Tertel said that requests for assistance have been sent to the relevant authorities of 18 states, including the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic. Belarusian law enforcement agencies have requested assistance from relevant specialists of the United States, as this country has the ability to control the flow of payments in U.S. dollars through the SWIFT system. </p> <p> </p> <p> “We... know that the puppet masters behind his (Babariko’s – editor’s note) activity fear that our actions will lead to obtaining data and confirmation of their involvement in this illegal activity. These are, we know, the big bosses at [Russia’s] Gazprom, and maybe even higher," Tertel said. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, Babariko and his son Eduard, who heads his father’s election campaign headquarters, were detained and taken to the SCC Financial Investigations Department in the morning of June 18 for questioning. Their homes were searched. Babariko previously emphasized that according to the law there can be no claims against the bank and its related companies, and the actions of the authorities are a political frame-up. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belgazprombank was established in 1990 and is the authorized bank of the Gazprom Group in Belarus. Russia’s Gazprom and Gazprombank each hold a 49.66% stake in Belgazprombank, Gazprom Transgaz Belarus holds a 0.49% share, and 0.18% is held by Belarus’ Ministry of Energy. Belgazprombank belongs to Tier I Group. End </p>
2020-06-19
Primepress
MINSK, Jun 18 - PrimePress. Former head of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko, who is now considered as one of the key rivals of Alexander Lukashenko in the forthcoming presidential elections in Belarus, has been detained on suspicion of alleged involvement in Belgazprombank’s criminal case, chairman of the State Control Committee (SCC) of Belarus Ivan Tertel told reporters on June 18.
“The SCC Financial Investigations Department (FID) has initiated a number of criminal cases under Article 243 (large-scale tax evasion), Article 235 (legalization of criminal funds), Article 210 (large-scale theft), Article 209 (fraud), as well as under Article 430 (bribery) and Article 431 (bribe giving). We have detained about 20 people who directly participated in illegal activities, including Babariko. Babariko was detained in connection with the fact that he was the direct organizer and leader of the illegal activity, tried to influence the testimony of witnesses, made attempts to hide the traces of the crimes committed and just recently withdrew a large amount of money from the accounts under his control,” said Tertel.
In his words, a number of Belgazprombank officials were found to be involved in the organization of schemes related to the actual coercion of citizens to obtain loans in their own name with the subsequent transfer of money and provision of citizens with these funds for interest. “There have been documented numerous facts of bribes received by the bank officials for granting loans to entrepreneurs and persons “with a poor credit history”, he said.
“Work is under way on a number of fronts, including the fraudulent manipulation of bills of exchange worth more than US $60 million,” he said. As a result, large amounts of foreign currency have been deposited into foreign accounts by members of the criminal group under their control. In addition, we have tracked down [money] laundering schemes, which were used to
withdraw large amounts of foreign currency to foreign banks” to the accounts of dependent institutions, Tertel said.
In his words, one of such dependent institutions was Latvia’s ABLV Bank (in early 2018, the European Central Bank decided to liquidate it – editor’s note). “According to our Latvian colleagues, over $430 million has been withdrawn from Belgazprombank accounts in several years for the benefit of this bank alone,” said Tertel. He said that Latvian law enforcement authorities promptly responded to queries and tracked in the accounts of ABLV Bank the money, which belonged to current employees of Belgazprombank, including deputy head of Legal Department Shevchuk. “He would follow Babariko’s direct instructions, establishing legal entities in offshore territories and maintained their operations,” Tertel said.
The SCC official claims that “practically all those detained cooperate with the investigation, make confessions, including about the leading and organizing role of the former head of Belgazprombank in these criminal schemes.”
Tertel said that requests for assistance have been sent to the relevant authorities of 18 states, including the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic. Belarusian law enforcement agencies have requested assistance from relevant specialists of the United States, as this country has the ability to control the flow of payments in U.S. dollars through the SWIFT system.
“We... know that the puppet masters behind his (Babariko’s – editor’s note) activity fear that our actions will lead to obtaining data and confirmation of their involvement in this illegal activity. These are, we know, the big bosses at [Russia’s] Gazprom, and maybe even higher," Tertel said.
As previously reported, Babariko and his son Eduard, who heads his father’s election campaign headquarters, were detained and taken to the SCC Financial Investigations Department in the morning of June 18 for questioning. Their homes were searched. Babariko previously emphasized that according to the law there can be no claims against the bank and its related companies, and the actions of the authorities are a political frame-up.
Belgazprombank was established in 1990 and is the authorized bank of the Gazprom Group in Belarus. Russia’s Gazprom and Gazprombank each hold a 49.66% stake in Belgazprombank, Gazprom Transgaz Belarus holds a 0.49% share, and 0.18% is held by Belarus’ Ministry of Energy. Belgazprombank belongs to Tier I Group. End