Belarus President makes new appointments

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Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made new appointments on 27 January.

The head of state appointed:

  • Valery Malashko Healthcare Minister of Belarus.

The President also approved the appointment of:

  • Vladimir Senchuk as Chairman of the Brest District Executive Committee;
  • Vyacheslav Dashkevich as Head of the Moskovsky District Administration in Brest;
  • Vladimir Burmistrov as Chairman of the Yelsk District Executive Committee;
  • Sergei Kazachok as Head of the Novobelitsky District Administration in Gomel;
  • Igor Shaludin as Chairman of the Ostrovets District Executive Committee;
  • Oleg Belinsky as Head of the Oktyabrsky District Administration in Grodno;
  • Andrei Kuntsevich as Deputy Chairman of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee;
  • Pavel Naiden as Chairman of the Bobruisk District Executive Committee;
  • Konstantin Zhigutsky as Chairman of the Slavgorod District Executive Committee;
  • Vasily Vityunov as Chairman of the Shklov District Executive Committee;
  • Alexander Prokopov as Chairman of the Mstislavl District Executive Committee;
  • Alla Lomakina as Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister;
  • Vyacheslav Durnov as First Deputy Sport and Tourism Minister;
  • Dmitry Krutoy as First Deputy Economy Minister;
  • Pavel Utyupin as Deputy Economy Minister;
  • Alexander Chervyakov as Deputy Economy Minister;
  • Viktor Karankevich as First Deputy Energy Minister;
  • Olga Prudnikova as Deputy Energy Minister;
  • Dmitry Bartashevich as Deputy Chairman of the State Standardization Committee;
  • Anatoly Dorozhko as Chairman of the Grodno Oblast State Control Committee;
  • Sergei Zabagonsky as Director of Belgeodeziya;
  • Stanislav Zheromsky as Director General of Gomelstroymaterialy;
  • Andrei Brishtelev as Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Bank for Development and Reconstruction Belinvestbank;
  • Vladimir Tsumarev as a member of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee;
  • Yuri Ilyushchik as a member of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee.

When appointing Valery Malashko as the Healthcare Minister, Aleksandr Lukashenko reminded that not long ago Valery Malashko was appointed Labor and Social Security Minister. “When we started considering candidacies for the post of the Healthcare Minister, you got the highest ratings,” the head of state remarked.

“I do not mean to say that the post of the Labor Minister is non-essential in our country. But, let us be frank, the Healthcare Minister is the most important position in any country, as it means the health of the nation. I had to make the choice: whether to keep the things as they were or admit that Valery Malashko was more needed as the Healthcare Minister. Therefore I offer my apologies for the way things happened. The society believes that Valery Malashko should be the Healthcare Minister. And I agree with the society,” the President said.

When approving the appointments of heads of local executive and regulatory bodies, the head of state focused on a number of topical issues.

“The situation is not easy for everybody, it is not easy for you because you are face to face with people. Therefore, I am very grateful to you. I understand that the people occupying such positions are not the richest people even in our country. Therefore, we are now doing our best to optimize agencies and reduce the number of personnel. You should not be afraid of it. At the same time, we should, and, first of all, you should improve administrative discipline. You have big authorities even within the framework of the existing legal acts,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

At the same time, the President believes that the authorities of heads of local executive and regulatory bodies can be expanded. “Any member of the executive committee, any civil servant living on the territory of the district should provide reports to the executive committee, if not directly to the President. Do not divide authorities. You are the main representatives of the President in your districts. If the executive committee makes a decision, it must be fulfilled by everyone in accordance with the law. If the head of the local department of internal affairs or the head of the State Security Committee’s department do not like it, it is up to them to appeal against this decision to corresponding agencies. But if the decision is just and honest, no one will abolish it,” the head of state stressed.

The interaction with people should be a priority in the work of local administration bodies. “It is neglected today. We even started to persuade people to clean up their household plots, repair fences, paint houses… People should receive instructions. If they do not listen to you, take radical measures,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. “Give more authorities to the heads of rural councils, they should be accountable for their decisions.”

The President cited certain provisions of the ordinance against freeloading as an example. In particular, one of the provisions authorizes heads of rural councils to exempt a person from the unemployment tax is this person is in difficulty. “Even if the chairperson makes one or two mistakes, the country will not be hurt much. You will deal with it,” the head of state remarked. “Give more authorities to heads of enterprises, heads of rural councils, and there will be tougher accountability.”

Executive bodies should pay special attention to the forthcoming spring sowing campaign. “It is needed to think today how to do it. There are two or three troubled farms in every district. You are aware of my requirement: these are your farms. You must be aware of the state of affairs at these farms. If necessary, you can even switch to the hands-on management to show that these farms can be efficient,” Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed.

Another crucial issue on the agenda was the improvement of local enterprises.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also urged civil servants to step up efforts to prevent crimes and offences. “You are face to face with people. Our people are the most just people. They will see everything,” the President said. “Therefore, do not take someone else’s things, especially the state property. This is a serious issue. There will not be any concessions.

The Belarus President Administration was instructed to establish direct contacts with the heads of local executive and regulatory bodies to discuss all problems and pending issues if necessary. “They should talk to me, tell me and I will call them,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said addressing Natalya Kochanova. “They should have access to the President through the head of the Belarus President Administration, the prime minister.”

The head of state also urged to support hardworking executives.