Łukašenka appoints new CEO to Biełaruśkalij, pushes for cheaper domestic fertilizers

November 4, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has appointed Andrej Rybakoŭ as new CEO at the Belarusian potash giant Biełaruśkalij, his press office reports.

Rybakoŭ, who had managed the state-run oil and petrochemical Biełnaftachim monopolist, replaced Ivan Hałavaty who headed Biełaruśkalij since 2014.

Łukašenka also suggested selling potash fertilizers on the domestic market with  smaller profit margins.

“You see that there is a crazy demand for the food products, in the neighboring state [Russia] . . . in China and others,” the state-run media quoted him as saying. “Let’s finally introduce enough mineral fertilizers in agriculture to increase crop production and respectively livestock to get more milk and meat and sell them.”

Biełaruśkalij has been under the European Union’s sanction since 2021 over allegations of human rights abuses. Hałavaty was also sanctioned for his links to Łukašenka and his family members as well as alleged involvement in politically-motivated reprisals at the company.

A few weeks ago, the European Court of Justice rejected appeals by the Biełaruśkalij, Hałavaty and the Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) against EU sanctions.

Biełaruśkalij remains a key source of income for the Łukašenka regime and enjoys preferential treatment to export potash fertilizers, according to the ruling.

Also read: European Court of Justice upholds sanctions against Biełaruśkalij and BPC