Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with Chairman of State Forensics Committee Andrei Shved

Belarus needs to take radical measures to combat drugs, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he received Chairman of the State Forensics Committee of Belarus Andrei Shved on 7 April.

Aleksandr Lukashenko wanted to know if the State Forensics Committee has the necessary equipment and solutions to conduct sophisticated tests. Andrei Shved informed that new equipment was bought to identify and examine drugs. This equipment is available not only in the central office, but also in virtually all regional offices of the committee. “We have everything we need to do it,” the Chairman of the State Forensics Committee said.

“Does it mean we are fully equipped to combat drugs today?” the President asked.

“We are not just fully equipped; our equipment is very sophisticated and advanced. Our laboratories can identify any drug within 30-40 minutes,” Andrei Shved underlined. He noted that this also pertains to spices – the problem that is much talked about today and that needs to be addressed.

“We need to take tough action against drugs,” Aleksandr Lukashenko informed.

“If we are well-equipped and can do it well, it means we should instruct all government agencies, including legislators, to adopt some tough measures against drugs. I think your committee will join the process, and take part in the discussions and come up with suggestions and proposals,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko and Andrei Shved discussed the formation, the first results and issues facing the State Forensics Committee, an organization that was established less than a year ago. Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that the committee should optimize its structure and staff.

According to Andrei Shved, the analysis of the committee’s performance has proved that the decision to unite forensics subdivisions into one committee was right. The efficiency demonstrated by the committee is a testimony to that. The quality of examinations improved and the time needed to conduct them reduced. There are very few incidents when repeated examination revealed inaccuracy or unreliability of the previous examination, while such incidents were numerous before the committee was established.

This committee became an integral part of law enforcement. “Chronic issues that accumulated over many years of the work are mostly resolved now,” the Chairman of the State Forensics Committee said.

Andrei Shved put forward a number of proposals to improve the operation of the committee without using additional public funds. Most of the suggestions were upheld by the Belarusian President. Andrei Shved suggested, among other things, obliging the persons convicted of criminal or administrative offences to compensate for the expenses associated with the forensic examination. This proposal will be studied by the Supreme Court, State Forensics Committee and the Investigation Committee.