Former Uralkali CEO Found Dead in Cyprus, Investigation Underway
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Authorities in Cyprus have confirmed the body discovered last month on a beach along the country’s southern coastline is that of Vladislav Baumgertner, the former chief executive of Russia’s largest potash company, Uralkali. Baumgertner, 53, had been reported missing from his home in the coastal city of Limassol on January 7th, and his body was found a week later on Avdimou beach.
The British Sovereign Base Areas police, who have jurisdiction over the area where the body was discovered, confirmed the identification through DNA analysis. An investigation into the circumstances and cause of Baumgertner’s death is currently ongoing, and his relatives have been notified, according to police statements.
Avdimou beach is located within one of two military bases retained by the United Kingdom on Cyprus following the island’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960. These bases operate under their own legal and policing systems.
Baumgertner’s history includes a significant period of legal trouble stemming from a dispute involving Uralkali and its Belarusian trading partner in 2013. Belarusian authorities placed him under house arrest in September of that year, alleging harm to the Belarusian economy. He was released two months later and extradited to Russia, where prosecutors initiated a criminal investigation into allegations of abuse of office.
At the time of his arrest, analysts suggested the move was retaliation for Uralkali’s decision to withdraw from a joint venture with Belarusian Potash Co., a state-owned enterprise. The joint venture had controlled approximately a quarter of the global potash market – a crucial component in fertilizer production.
Uralkali’s withdrawal from the venture reportedly left Belarusian Potash Co. Significantly understaffed and raised concerns about a potential price war in the potash market. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko publicly stated that Baumgertner and Uralkali’s actions had negatively impacted his country’s economy.
Prior to his death, Baumgertner had been residing in Cyprus for several years. Reports indicate he lived in an apartment above his business in Limassol, a city that has become home to a substantial number of Russian expatriates.
The investigation is focused on determining the cause of death. According to reports from the British Bases Police, investigators are considering possibilities ranging from accidental death during rock climbing to foul play. A report in UNN noted that Baumgertner was last seen taking a taxi towards a coastal area known for difficult rock climbing routes.
The circumstances surrounding Baumgertner’s death are unfolding alongside another mysterious death involving a Russian national in Cyprus. According to reports, a Russian diplomat, Alexey Panov, died at the Russian embassy in Cyprus around the same time. The embassy attributed Panov’s death to suicide and reportedly denied Cypriot police access to the scene, fueling speculation about a possible connection between the two cases.
The British Sovereign Base Areas police are continuing their investigation and have requested assistance from experts to analyze the evidence and determine the precise cause and manner of Baumgertner’s death.
