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The family of former Uralkali chief Vladislav Baumgertner is demanding answers and a halt to his burial as questions continue to swirl around his death in Cyprus.
Baumgertner, the former general director of Russian fertilizer giant Uralkali, was found dead in January in a ravine along Cyprus’ southern coastline after going missing days earlier. Authorities initially indicated there were no signs of criminal activity, and reports suggested he may have fallen during a climbing excursion.
But his eldest sons and former wife say they are not convinced.
According to Russian media reports, 24-year-old Roman and 19-year-old Alexandre Baumgertner, along with their mother Irina, have formally asked Russian police to block the issuance of a burial permit until an independent investigation is completed. Their lawyers submitted a request to authorities in Moscow’s Tsaritsino district, where the businessman’s body was transferred earlier this month.
“Our clients oppose the burial until the investigation is fully completed,” their lawyer was quoted as saying, noting that a forensic examination has been scheduled but not finalized.
The family wants to determine whether Baumgertner’s death was violent. Until then, they say, he should not be buried.
Other relatives disagree. His most recent ex-wife, Yulia, has reportedly pushed for an immediate cremation and says the necessary permissions have already been secured. However, the local police officer responsible for issuing the burial document has refused to proceed, deepening the dispute within the family.
Baumgertner vanished on Jan. 7. Cypriot authorities launched a search on Jan. 11. Three days later, on Jan. 14, a body was discovered near the seaside village of Avdimou, close to where his last mobile phone signal had been detected. The area falls within the jurisdiction of the British Bases in Akrotiri, where an autopsy was carried out.
Identification required DNA testing due to the severity of the injuries. Official findings on the exact cause of death have not yet been publicly released.
His lawyers argue the timeline raises red flags.
They say Baumgertner left home on Jan. 7 for what was described as a business meeting, then stopped communicating. Yet his mobile phone remained active, and messages were reportedly answered the following day. They also question why he checked into a hotel roughly an hour from his residence and why he would have gone hiking given that he reportedly suffered from knee problems and had a long-standing fear of heights.
His body was ultimately found in a ravine between Pissouri and Avdimou, along a rugged stretch of coastline popular with hikers.
Cyprus police and authorities in the British bases have continued their inquiries, though early indications suggested no foul play.
Baumgertner was no stranger to controversy. In 2013, he was arrested in Belarus amid a high-profile dispute between Uralkali and Belaruskali in what was dubbed a “potash war.” He was accused of abuse of power, though the case was later closed.
A farewell ceremony had been scheduled for Feb. 21 at Moscow’s Troekurovskoye cemetery. Despite objections from his eldest sons, permission to release the body has reportedly been granted.
For now, the central question remains unresolved: Was this a tragic accident or something more?
This story continues to develop.
