Belarus President makes new appointments

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made new appointments on 26 January.

The head of state appointed:

Aleksandr Volfovich state secretary of the Security Council;

Vasily Gerasimov chairman of the State Control Committee;

Yuri Shuleiko chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee.

The President also approved the appointment of:

Mikhail Demidov as chairman of the Klimovichi District Executive Committee;

Igor Lyashenko as director general of OAO Grodno Azot;

Kirill Kazakov as director general of ZAO Stolichnoye Televideniye;

Andrei Lyubimov as member of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee.

“Keep in mind that we are going through a difficult time. We will face more attempts to stir up tensions here. You can see this already happening in Russia. We were aware of it, as just like the Russian authorities, back in the middle of last year. There are no surprises for us and for them. Nevertheless in this difficult time we must learn to resist our internal enemies, and especially our external ones,” the Belarusian leader emphasized addressing new State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich.

Until now Aleksandr Volfovich headed the General Staff of the Armed Forces. According to the head of state, he had discussed Aleksandr Volfovich’s candidacy with interested parties, including with the defense minister before making this personnel decision. “As a dutiful general, he did not object, he responded appropriately to my comments and suggestions, but I felt that he was very unwilling to let you go to work at the Security Council. According to him, one cannot find a more prepared person in the General Staff today. I guess he is right. But I believe that we will find people who can be up to the job. We just have to do it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state emphasized that the state secretary is actually the President’s chief link with the security forces. “You know this system from within, otherwise you would not be able to work as the chief of the General Staff, you are an educated and knowledgeable person,” the President said about Aleksandr Volfovich.

The head of state added that it was Aleksandr Volfovich who was in the midst of all recent events and activities. “We planned, primarily using the General Staff forces, measures on the external border to protect our Fatherland, especially in the run-up to and after the election. Everyone remembers this. We deployed our military units and they reacted by suppressing possible hostile attacks on our country and attempts to create unnecessary problems for us. In other words, I have recently seen you very well in action,” the President said.

Addressing new Governor of Brest Oblast Yuri Shuleiko, the President said: "We have already talked about your appointment. We thoroughly discussed your work in Gomel Oblast and talked about work in Brest. You understand what needs to be done there".

The President added that he intends to visit Grodno Oblast and then plans a trip to Brest. “You will already settle in (I think you do not need a lot of time for this: you worked in such a position, you know the particulars of this work and have a wealth of experience) and will report to me about the sore points of Brest Oblast and especially the city of Brest, taking into account the events of the past year so that we set guiding lines for the future work,” the President noted. “Brest Oblast is a good region, with good people. I served there, I know these people. But there are lost souls, we need to work with them. You know how to work with them, you have learned this in Gomel Oblast.”

The head of state also approved the appointment of Mikhail Demidov as Chairman of the Klimovichi District Executive Committee. Prior to that, he was first vice chairman, head of the agriculture and food department of the Belynichi District Executive Committee.

“As for the district that you are leaving, it's a good one. When I studied your personal file, I thought that you, being a zoo technician, a doctor will transfer this experience to Klimovichi District. In this regard, we will support you,” the President assured. “Klimovichi District is a strong fundamental district in Mogilev Oblast. I would like you to succeed in your new post. You have good prospects."

Aleksandr Lukashenko promised to visit Klimovichi District this year, perhaps during planting or harvesting campaigns. "Then you will tell us your vision of the development of the district," he said.

Addressing new Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov, the head of state said: “I appreciate your efficiency in the recent time. Good job, you should act this way in the future and do your best to protect the interests of the Belarusian state. In accordance with the law. We have developed the legal framework to prevent the attempts to destabilize the situation in the country. As for the State Control Committee, this, first of all, should focus on financing from abroad. And the operation of various so-called commercial structures and enterprises, individual activists. The State Control Committee has learned to work in this field, and we must be proactive here”.

Apart from these issues, Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that the State Control Committee also has to address more traditional specific tasks such as control over the budget spending in the operation of public property. “Especially property. Please take unfinished construction projects under control. There are many long-delayed construction projects in Belarus. Of course, this number is smaller than it was five years ago, but they still exist. The committee should keep an eye on this public property and sort things out. As for the budget, tough control over spending is needed. We need to get rid of all unnecessary financial events. There are a few. This issue was discussed at the recent meeting [with the Council of Ministers on 21 January],” the Belarusian leader said.

The head of state noted that Igor Lyashenko who was appointed Director General of OAO Grodno Azot knows the enterprise very well as he supervised the company when he was deputy prime minister and head of Belneftekhim Concern.

“It is a very important enterprise, a strategic one. We have already talked a lot about the enterprise and the importance of discipline there. If anything happens there, the entire Grodno would be infected. That is why we need the strictest discipline there, both technological and organizational one. The place should be put in order. Let me tell you frankly: no one can be spared or pitied for a breach of discipline there. God forbid something happens, and we will lose thousands of innocent people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.