Belgazprombank should quit interim administration as soon as possible - Russian Ambassador
<p> MINSK, Jul 2 – PrimePress. Belgazprombank should resume normal operation as soon as possible and withdraw from the interim administration mode, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said on July 1. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, the National Bank of Belarus (NBB) on June 15, 2020 appointed the interim administration to Belgazprombank OJSC headed by Nadezhda Yermakova. The bank’s board was suspended for the period of the interim administration. </p> <p> </p> <p> On June 11, 2020, the Financial Investigations Department of the State Control Committee of Belarus conducted searches at Belgazprombank’s head office in Minsk in the framework of criminal cases of tax evasion and money laundering. The investigators claim there was an organized criminal group in Belgazprombank to withdraw money abroad. 20 people, including top managers of the bank, were detained. Russia’s Gazprom and Gazprombank slammed ‘unlawful’ actions by the National Bank and law enforcement agencies and, would refuse to cooperate with the temporary administration of their subsidiary OAO Belgazprombank. </p> <p> </p> <p> 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, was detained on June 18 and still remains in custody. 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> “It is important to move away from the interim administration management of the bank as soon as possible. It is important that the parties should reach an agreement, taking into account the opinion of both shareholders and the regulator of Belarus, on the composition of the Belgazprombank board,” Mezentsev said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman. </p> <p> </p> <p> The diplomat emphasized that the interests of clients and shareholders should be put in the center of attention. “It is important that the format of foreign investment protection is confirmed in the spirit and the letter of the national law. We also understand that certain image losses to one of the premium-segment banks of Belarus have become evident. It is important to publicly present the steps and measures that will restore the bank’s reputation as soon as possible, not to allow these image losses to increase,” said Mezentsev. End </p>
2020-07-03
Primepress
MINSK, Jul 2 – PrimePress. Belgazprombank should resume normal operation as soon as possible and withdraw from the interim administration mode, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said on July 1.
As previously reported, the National Bank of Belarus (NBB) on June 15, 2020 appointed the interim administration to Belgazprombank OJSC headed by Nadezhda Yermakova. The bank’s board was suspended for the period of the interim administration.
On June 11, 2020, the Financial Investigations Department of the State Control Committee of Belarus conducted searches at Belgazprombank’s head office in Minsk in the framework of criminal cases of tax evasion and money laundering. The investigators claim there was an organized criminal group in Belgazprombank to withdraw money abroad. 20 people, including top managers of the bank, were detained. Russia’s Gazprom and Gazprombank slammed ‘unlawful’ actions by the National Bank and law enforcement agencies and, would refuse to cooperate with the temporary administration of their subsidiary OAO Belgazprombank.
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, was detained on June 18 and still remains in custody. 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.
“It is important to move away from the interim administration management of the bank as soon as possible. It is important that the parties should reach an agreement, taking into account the opinion of both shareholders and the regulator of Belarus, on the composition of the Belgazprombank board,” Mezentsev said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman.
The diplomat emphasized that the interests of clients and shareholders should be put in the center of attention. “It is important that the format of foreign investment protection is confirmed in the spirit and the letter of the national law. We also understand that certain image losses to one of the premium-segment banks of Belarus have become evident. It is important to publicly present the steps and measures that will restore the bank’s reputation as soon as possible, not to allow these image losses to increase,” said Mezentsev. End