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KGB accused ex-CEO of Belgazprombank of bribery and money laundering

Former CEO of Belgazprombank Viktor Babariko has been accused of bribery and money laundering.

The State Security Committee (KGB) of the Republic of Belarus reported that the preliminary information regarding the management of Belgazprombank has been completed.

Babariko was charged with organizing criminal activities and accepting bribes on an especially large scale, as well as legalizing money obtained by criminal means.

In addition, the bank’s Deputy CEOs Sergei Shaban, Alexander Ilyasyuk, Kirill Badey, Dmitry Kuzmich, as well as former First Deputy CEO Alexei Zadoyko and former Deputy CEO Sergei Dobrolet have been charged with bribery.

Viktor Kobyak, founder of Aktivleasing LLC, was accused by the investigation of giving a bribe on a large scale.

For his part, Babariko denied all charges.

– All suspects fully acknowledged their guilt, save for Babariko, – the KGB said.

In June, the KGB searched Belgazprombank offices, as a result of which about 30 people were detained and more than $ 4 million were seized. A criminal case was opened on charges of tax evasion and money laundering.

Victor Babariko has worked in the banking sector since 1995 and was chairman of the management board of Belgazprombank from July 2000 to May 2020.

On November 24, President of Belarus Lukashenko met with Nadezhda Yermakova, interim administration chairwoman, and said that the government will do everything necessary to keep the bank afloat.