The body found on January 15 on Avdimou beach in southern Cyprus has been identified as that of 56-year-old Russian businessman and former CEO of fertilizer giant "Uralkali" Vladislav Baumgertner, who had been missing since January 7, Cypriot authorities announced today, quoted by the "Cyprus Mail", BTA reported.
The DNA identification was carried out by British authorities, and the deceased's relatives have been notified, the publication notes. Baumgertner was reported missing on January 7 after he failed to return to his home in Pissouri. His body was found by British forces investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Vladislav Baumgartner became internationally known in August 2013 when he was arrested at Minsk airport while travelling for talks with the prime minister of Belarus, the Cyprus Mail recalls. The arrest was linked to the breakdown in cooperation between Uralkali and Belarusian state producer Belaruskali - a conflict known as the "potassium war". Baumgartner was charged with abuse of power and detained before being extradited to Moscow in November of that year.
He was then placed under house arrest and later resigned from his position at Uralkali. The charges against him were dropped in 2015, with the case widely seen as politically motivated amid strained relations between Moscow and Minsk at the time.
After the case ended, Baumgartner returned to senior business positions, including leadership positions in port and logistics companies, and in recent years lived in Cyprus.