In London, the court continues on the suit of Lithuanian investors against Belarus. Among the defendants – Lukashenka

At the end of March, the major international court ICSID continued proceedings on the suit of Lithuanian investors against Belarus. We are talking about the companies Pavilniu saules slenis and Modus grupe, which failed to implement an investment project for the construction of a hotel near the Minsk airport. Among the defendants, the president of Belarus and the prime minister were previously named (positions were indicated, not specific people), as well as the Minsk City Executive Committee, writes Mirror.

ICSID continues to consider the claim of two Lithuanian companies Pavilniu saules slenis and Modus grupe to Belarus, it was filed at the beginning of 2021. The subject of the claim is a hotel construction project. As before informed resource Reform.by, the dispute concerns the project for the construction of a hotel near the airport “Minsk”. The defendants in the lawsuit were the President of Belarus, the Prime Minister of the country (positions are indicated, not specific people), as well as the Minsk City Executive Committee.

As reported on the ICSID website, on March 25-30 this year, the tribunal of this court held hearings on jurisdiction and the merits of the case in person in London and by videoconference. The status of the proceedings is listed as “pending”. Prior to that, on February 27, the tribunal held a preliminary organizational meeting with the parties via videoconference. And even earlier, on December 11, 2022, the defendant sent an objection on the merits to the court.

What hotel are you talking about?

Anatoly Kalinin, who at that time held the position of Deputy Prime Minister, reported on the construction of a hotel at the airport in 2014. According to him, the hotel was supposed to be built by a Belarusian investor, who was chosen by the Minsk City Executive Committee. Construction was supposed to start in 2015, and Kalinin expected its completion in 2016. In September 2020, the general director of the airport confirmed the presence of an investor who should start building a hotel on the territory near the railway station in 2021. The name of the investor was not disclosed.

In March 2021, the Belarusian government issued a resolution in which the Ministry of Economy and the Minsk City Executive Committee were appointed as representatives of the Council of Ministers when considering the case on the claim of Lithuanian companies at the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes. The Minsk City Executive Committee was also responsible for paying the costs of protecting the interests of the country in this trial.