Representatives Of The German Company Bayer Were Detained In Belarus
- 3.11.2026, 19:03
It was Bayer that created the world-famous aspirin.
In Belarus, a criminal case has been opened against representatives of the German chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer; they are suspected of tax evasion totaling more than 50 million rubles. Ten people have been detained in connection with the case, and seven of them have been remanded in custody, according to the Investigative Committee.
According to investigators, executives of the foreign companies Bayer and JSC “BAYER,” with the assistance of others, sold medicines and crop protection products in Belarus from January 2020 through March 2026 without registering a permanent representative office, through which such activities were required to be conducted. Allegedly, “Bayer VR” LLC and several representative offices of foreign companies were established to conceal this scheme.
“The suspects ignored the fact that the funds received were subject to taxation and evaded taxes totaling more than 50 million rubles. At the same time, during the period of criminal activity, more than 1.35 billion rubles were transferred from Belarusian accounts to the Bayer group of companies,” the Investigative Committee stated.
Ten people—citizens of Belarus and Russia—have been detained as part of the investigation; seven have been remanded in custody. A criminal case has been opened under Article 243 of the Criminal Code (Tax Evasion).
The committee stated that it had received “irrefutable evidence of all suspects’ involvement in the crimes”:
“Searches were conducted, and documentation confirming illegal activities was seized, including off-the-books records, specifications, contracts, orders, shipment data, and summary files.”
It is claimed that “the suspects are cooperating with the investigation and have made confessions, including regarding the management of the foreign company.”
To compensate for the alleged damages, bank accounts belonging to the company and its foreign representative offices have been frozen, along with real estate, vehicles, and other assets belonging to the suspects. The total value of the seized assets amounts to at least 8 million rubles.
As a reminder, in March 2022, the German conglomerate Bayer announced restrictions on its operations in Belarus and Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The company suspended investment projects, advertising, and marketing activities in both countries.
At the same time, Bayer decided to continue supplying essential goods for healthcare and agriculture. The company explained that halting the supply of vital medicines—including drugs for treating cancer and cardiovascular diseases—as well as agricultural products could harm the civilian population.
Bayer is one of Germany’s largest chemical and pharmaceutical companies, founded in 1863. The company manufactures medicines, crop protection products, and seeds. It was Bayer that created the world-famous aspirin. The company’s headquarters are located in Leverkusen.