MOSCOW, August 26 (RAPSI) - Vladislav Baumgertner, chief executive officer of OAO Uralkali, the world's largest potash producer, has been detained in Belarus, RIA Novosti reported Monday.

“He is charged with abuse of power,” the agency quoted The Investigative Committee of Belarus representative Pavel Traulko as saying.

Uralkali reacted swiftly blaming Belarus authorities for the incident. “We are suprised with what has happened and consider it a provocation,” PRIME business news agency quoted Uralkali representative Alexander Babinsky as saying. He added that Uralkali CEO was detained in the airport when he was about to leave Minsk after meeting with the Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich.

According to the  Belarusian authorities, the criminal case was launched as the result of a probe into power abuse allegations that led to grave damage to the public interests of Belarus, damages to Belarusian Potash company.

Uralkali reviewed its sales strategy in July, at which point it opted to focus on production scale and quashed its cooperation with the company Belarusian Potash as a result. Valery Kirienko, the CEO of the Belarusian potash giant, said the company was considering its legal options.