The American mafia in the Byelorussian prison?

2007...

In 2004 in Brest it has been registered « Belamer Company » as which founders have acted American company « Tower Company East » on behalf of representative David Bogatina, and his son, the Russian citizen, Sergey Bogatin. In the autumn of the same year the enterprise, having constructed on the rented areas in gas boiler-house and having established the equipment, started manufacture of semifinished items for the food-processing industry as fruit jam. However has not passed also half-year as on « Беламер Компани » problems have begun. The salary to workers was late, people sent in no-charge holidays. Under the initial version, the reason of troubles became two bank credits, taken in the Byelorussian banks under purchase of reed sugar. The enterprise has already transferred money to the American supplier when in Byelorussia the decree establishing the new order of taxation by the customs of imported sugar has left.

In December, 2005 founders of the enterprise have made the decision on his liquidation: procedure was supposed to be finished till September, 30, 2006. But in January 2006 investigatory management of Department of financial investigations has excited criminal case in attitude Bogatin. It was found out, that the foreign enterprise has run into debt not only to banks. Even now the total sum of debts to creditors makes 623 million 788 thousand Byelorussian roubles, and the first in turn on reception of duties former workers « Belaner Company » still cost.
Half-year ago both founders, foreign citizens, have been deprived freedom and now serve time in the Byelorussian prison.

...and 1992
Entrepreneur Who Left U.S. Is Back, Awaiting Sentence

By SAM HOWE VERHOVEK,
Published: April 30, 1992

First he fled the United States after pleading guilty to running what New York officials called one of the largest gasoline bootlegging schemes in the nation.

Then he emerged as an entrepreneur in post-Communist Poland, founding a successful frozen-fruit exporting business and a private bank.

He even staved off a run on his bank when a Polish newspaper revealed his fugitive status, promising higher interest rates and a lottery for cars and apartments to nervous depositors who maintained their accounts.

But now David Bogatin, a Russian native with United States citizenship whom even his prosecutors concede is an indefatigable businessman, is back in New York and in jail and awaiting resentencing. Today a State Supreme Court judge denied Mr. Bogatin's request for bail while the authorities here and in Brooklyn and Long Island decide just what to do with him.

The 46-year-old Mr. Bogatin is the first person ever returned to this country under the terms of a 1927 extradition treaty between Poland and the United States. Mr. Bogatin and Polish officials both say that until the newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza, published an article about him early this year, nobody in Poland had asked him any questions about where he or the money that he used to begin his businesses came from...

Second leg of Yamal-Europe

Russian ambassador says that it is inexpedient to build second leg of Yamal-Europe
Aleksandr Surikov, the Russian ambassador to Belarus, told reporters in Minsk on November 1 that it would be inexpedient to build a second leg of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline that runs via Belarus.
He explained that the construction the trans-Baltic Nord Stream pipeline had already begun, and that that pipeline via the Baltic Sea is advantageous, as it would enable direct supplies to Europe, bypassing intermediaries.
While visiting Minsk on October 19, Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov promised that Moscow would consider once again the expediency of the construction of a second leg of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline. He noted that this project would not constitute a big problem, but, according to him, it is necessary to have a clear view of Russia’s supply potential and the consumption of gas in Belarus and Europe.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka suggested earlier in October that Russia should abandon the idea of building a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea. He said that Russia should instead double the capacity of the Yamal-Europe pipeline running via Belarus by building its second leg, and offered free gas transit through the country in the following five years.
“Why have you decided to go under the Baltic? Don’t you remember I told you that nothing good will come of this?” the Belarusian leader said while meeting with a group of Russian provincial journalists on October 12. “If you are afraid that it is going be too expensive [to build the second leg], we’ll give you tax and fee breaks on gas transit for five years. Just don’t do stupid things!”

Forest lake and staircase in the sky

Lukashenka met with Russian oligarchs too often

Only within last week Lukashenka has met with three oligarchs – two Russian ones (Igor Makarov and Vladimir Yevtushenkov) and a Chinese one (He Xiangjian). The personal meetings of Lukashenka with businessmen of such rank have never been so intensive since 2002, when he had to work off his another presidential term for the Russian businessmen.



Belarusian «oligarchs» can loose their houses



More than 90 squatted land lots have been vacated and more than 70 illegally constructed buildings and metal garages have been demolished after the examination held by the State Control Committee in Gomel region, press-service of Gomel region State Control Committee reports.

26 officials of the regional land planning and geodesic services and authorities of the regional committee for nature resources and environment protection were called to disciplinary account. 62 administrative protocols were filed, 28 were examined. The total sum of the administrative fine made BR 9 mln.

According to the press-service, 7 resolutions of the local executive and administrative bodies were declined and arranged according to the legal norms for land deals; two rent agreements for land lots were annulled. Squatted land lots are being vacated and illegally constructed buildings and garages are being demolished.

Hope, you will get on all right

Political regime in Belarus is most repressive in Europe


Political regime in Belarus is most repressive in Europe

The visit of Souhayr Belhassen, President of the International Federation for Human Rights is over. She has been in Belarus since 28 October and had meetings with the relatives of the political prisoners, representatives of political parties and public organizations in Minsk and Hrodna. The representatives of four ministries – justice, information, internal and foreign affairs, didn’t want to meet with the President of the International Federation for Human Rights.
Lawyer not allowed visiting detained Halloween participants

Celebrate Halloween in Minsk

Today participants of Halloween celebration Yury Shalin, Andrei Kim, Valyantsin Sakalouski and Tatsyana Lashkaryova are to stand trial on petty hooliganism charges. In this way police has classified the attempt of the young guys to celebrate Halloween in Minsk the day before.