Lukashenko: Uralkali stk bidders ready to team up with Belaruskali

MOSCOW, Sep 30 (PRIME) -- The potential buyers of a stake in major Russian fertilizer producer Uralkali are willing to cooperate with Belarusian state-owned fertilizer producer Belaruskali, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said September 28, RIA Novosti reported.

“Those who want to buy the asset (a stake in Uralkali) are sending us signals that say, ‘Belarusians, wait a little and we will be together anyway,’ ” Lukashenko said.

Uralkali’s co-owner Suleiman Kerimov has been looking to sell his 21.75% stake in the company since August, when the fertilizer maker’s CEO Vladislav Baumgertner was arrested in Minsk for allegedly abusing his powers.

Belarus put Baumgertner under house arrest on September 26 following a month of incarceration. “He should not thank Putin, Medvedev, or Lukashenko (for helping with his current condition), but only his own mother,” the Belarusian president said.

Uralkali and Belaruskali broke up their partnership in late July after the Russian company accused its Belarusian partner of undermining their sales. Kerimov was also accused under the CEO case and put on the international wanted list.

The mass media has mentioned a dozen possible buyers for Kerimov’s stake.

On September 27, Russian businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev said that he was not interested in the acquisition of Kerimov’s stake in Uralkali.

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