Belgazprombank to operate even without Russian owners – Lukashenko

<p> MINSK, Nov 24 - PrimePress. Belgazprombank will operate even without Russian owners, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said on November 24, 2020 when hearing a report by Belgazprombank interim administration head Nadezhda Yermakova, says the presidential press office. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The interim administration under ex-head of the National Bank of Belarus Nadezhda Yermakova was appointed to Belgazprombank on June 15, 2020 by resolution No.192 of the National Bank of Belarus of June 14, 2020. The Financial Investigations Department of the State Control Committee of Belarus searched the bank’s office on June 11 as part of the criminal case on tax evasion, and detained 20 persons, including, according to some sources, two deputy chairs of the Board. Primary shareholders (Russian Gazprom and Gazprombank) called the actions of the National Bank and Belarus’ law enforcement illegal and refused to cooperate with the interim administration. For two decades, Belgazprombank was headed by Viktor Babariko, who attempted to run for president in the election scheduled for August 9. Babariko was detained on June 18. He said that no complaints had been filed against the bank and related companies. He believes the actions of the authorities are politically motivated. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Belgazprombank OJSC was established in 1990 as an authorized bank of Gazprom Group in Belarus. Russian Gazprom PJSC and Gazprombank JSC own 49.66% stake in Belgazprombank each; Gazprom Transgaz Belarus – 0.49%; the Republic of Belarus represented by the Ministry of Energy of Belarus – 0.097%. Belgazprombank is assigned to the system significance Group I. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lukashenko said he suggested Russian and other shareholders working together in Belgazprombank. “If they do not want to, we will work without them. We supported the bank in the difficult period, restored its liquidity and efficiency. I believe we can handle this. No big deal,” he said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Lukashenko expects that by mid-December 2020, when the interim administration’s mandate will expire, the new management will be appointed. “We discussed this with President Putin. He said the bank should be working. Why destroy it? On the contrary, we will do everything possible so that the bank functions normally and bring benefit to our state,” he said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> According to Lukashenko, Belgazprombank has not been fully restored. “And this has nothing to do with the policy we are pursuing here, but the policy pursued by the partners [Russian owners of the bank],” said the president. End </p> <p>   </p>

2020-11-25

Primepress