Belarus businesspeople behind bars: Five high-profile cases

On the evening of March 11, the State Security Committee (aka KGB) detained prominent businessman Yury Chyzh - the man described by many as one of Lukashenka's 'inner circle.' A day later, KGB spokesman said officially the businessman was suspected of tax evasion on a large scale. Euroradio recals five more cases in recent history, when the Belarusian business VIPs ended up behind bars.

Aliaksandr Murauiou, the owner of the controlling stake in the Motovelo plant.

He was arrested in June 2015 and accused of having caused damage to "Motovelo" and shareholders of the company.

Initially, none of the law-enforcement officers wanted to confirm that the businessman was detained. However, at some point KGB acknowledged the arrest and said that Murauiou was accused of the capital and equipment transfer. Later, Aliaksandr Lukashenka accused Murauiou of failing to fulfil the conditions of the investment agreement. A criminal case was initiated by the Committee for State Control based on the inspection materials from "Motovelo". Murauiou is yet to stand trial. Currently, he is in a KGB pretrial detention jail.

Aleh Zukhavitski, co-owner of the Hrodna company "ZOV-LenEvromebel"

Zukhavitski was particularly "lucky": he was detained twice within a short spell. The first time it happened in February 2015. He agreed with the prosecution about large scale tax evasion and after the repayment of the part of the damage was released on bail. He was arrested again in November 2015. The charges were the same.

Uladzimir Yapryntsau, co-owner of the "Triple" holding.

Yapryntsau was detained in August 2015, along with his son Kazbek, and is suspected of fraud. There are very few details known about the case of Yury Chyzh's closest ally. Law-enforcement officials commented on his detention only a few months later. Unofficially, reports suggest Yaprintsau transfered capital abroad.

Anna Shareika, former CEO of Vitsebsk broiler farm

Shareika's case is slightly different from the previous ones - at the time of her arrest, she was an active member of the Council of the Republic, the upper chamber of Belarus' National Assembly. And it is the only case at the moment of the VIP-persons that is in court. Anna Shareika stans an open trial in the Supreme Court. She does not admit her guilt.

Shareika is accused of power abuse. According to the officials, for several years Shareika bought feed and feed additives from a foreign commercial structure at high prices, thus having caused the damage worth more than 4 billion rubles to the poultry farm.