MOSCOW, January 30 (RAPSI) – Some Belarusian officials may become defendants in the case over Uralkali, the world's largest potash producer, Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus Aleksei Stuk told journalists on Thursday.

According to Stuk, the investigation is underway and possible involvement of Belarusian nationals in the case is examined.

On August 26 2013, Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner was detained in Minsk. According to the Belarusian authorities, the criminal case against him 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.

The charges against Baumgertner in Belarus followed a July decision by Uralkali to dissolve its international cartel with Belaruskali, sending potash prices spiraling down.
In November, Baumgertner was turned over to Russia and placed in detention.

Russian billionaire and Uralkali shareholder Suleyman Kerimov has been also charged with abuse of power in Belarus. Like Baumgertner, the charges against Kerimov are linked to his involvement in the Belarus Potash Company, the trading firm jointly owned by Belaruskali and Uralkali through which all their potash exports were channeled prior to the split.