Lukashenka's Friend Was Caught Smuggling EU Goods Into Belarus
- 7.03.2023, 9:19
Shipments are bypassing the sanctions.
Belarusian businessman and Lukashenka’s friend Siarhei Tsiatseryn imports some restricted products from the EU into Belarus. He is bypassing the sanctions and selling goods at a higher price since there is no competition. This is stated in the investigation of the Belarusian Investigative Center (BIC).
BelGlobalGarant LLC, a company controlled by businessman Tsiatseryn, according to investigators, received an exclusive right to import products from the European Union, including German Ritter Sport chocolate. This chocolate disappeared from Belarusian stores last year due to Lukashenka's "counter-sanctions" on products from the EU.
Now Ritter Sport chocolate is on sale in Belarus in the Korona multi store but at a higher price. The investigators found out that Vostok Logistics Company brought the Ritter Sport products to Belarusian stores. According to the BIC source, this company is a public front behind which BelGlobalGarant stands. Siarhei Tsiatseryn is the founder of both companies, as noted in the investigation. The businessman fell under EU sanctions as Lukashenka's "purse".
The investigators drew attention to the fact that the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of Belarus did not provide Vostok Logistics Company and BelGlobalGarant LLC with the necessary quotas for the import of chocolate from the EU. They are supposed to provide Belarusian companies with special quotas for the import of products from the EU as a part of the "counter-sanctions" by the authorities of the country.
When asked how Tsiatseryn's companies could arrange the import of chocolate bypassing the sanctions, lawyer Mikhail Kirylyuk said that the businessman could not have done this without Lukashenka's permission.
“I can’t imagine a situation where a businessman in Belarus – a big, pro-government one – does something significant, violates the law, and this happens without the knowledge and consent of Lukashenka’s administration,” he specified.
The investigators noted that Tsaitseryn repeatedly wrote to Lukashenka in order to receive preferences, asking him to create special conditions for doing business, “sometimes contrary to laws and legal regulations”. According to the investigation, he has earned his multi-million dollar fortune thanks to close ties with Lukashenka being his personal tennis coach.