MINSK, September 18 (RAPSI) - Defense lawyers for Vladislav Baumgertner, CEO of OAO Uralkali, the world's largest potash producer, are going to file this week a supervisory appeal to the chairman of the Minsk City Court against the measure of restraint chosen for their client, according to a statement of Baumgertner's attorney Anna Slavina released by the Belarus Republican Bar Association.

According to Slavina, the defense team takes strong measures to release Baumgertner including appeals against procedural actions and decisions taken by the bodies with carriage of the criminal process.

Baumgertner was detained in Minsk on August 26 and charged with abuse of power, according to the Investigative Committee of Belarus. According to the Belarusian authorities, the criminal case was launched as the result of a probe into abuse of power allegations that led to grave damage to the public interests of Belarus, and damages to the company Belarusian Potash.

Uralkali reacted swiftly, blaming Belarus authorities for the incident. "We are surprised with what has happened and consider it a provocation," PRIME business news agency quoted Uralkali representative Alexander Babinsky as saying.

Potash makes up around 8 percent of Belarus' exports and Belaruskali is one of its largest industrial enterprises. A major fall in potash prices would therefore deal a severe blow to Minsk, which has suffered from major falls in the Belarusian ruble in recent years.

Uralkali has long coveted Belaruskali and was in negotiations last year to buy a stake in the company, but talks fell apart after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he would not sell a controlling stake in the state-owned firm.