10 Bayer representatives detained in Belarus in case over unpaid taxes of 50 million rubles

The Investigative Committee of Belarus has announced that a criminal case has been opened against representatives of the German concern Bayer and that ten people have been detained. The official reason is tax evasion: according to investigators, the amount exceeds 50 million rubles.

The case is being handled by the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee together with the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee. They said they had put a stop to the unlawful activity of the company's representatives.

According to the Investigative Committee, those detained include citizens of Belarus and Russia. Seven of the ten have been placed in custody.

According to investigators, the heads of the foreign companies Bayer and JSC "BAYER", with the assistance of other persons, conducted business activity from January 2020 to March 2026 without registering a permanent representative office. According to investigators, this concerns the sale of plant protection products and pharmaceutical products.

Law enforcement officers seized the company's real estate and vehicles, its accounts and the accounts of its foreign representative offices, as well as the suspects' property. The total value of what was seized is reportedly at least 8 million rubles.

The raid in Minsk began on the same day that two Belarusian saboteur agents were detained in Germany. They were reportedly preparing terrorist attacks in the Nuremberg area, and had earlier blown up a defense plant in Romania.

In March 2022, Bayer announced that it was limiting its presence in Belarus and Russia: it was ending spending on marketing and investment projects.