Aleksandr Lukashenko makes new appointments

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko made new appointments on 13 December.

The head of state appointed Igor Karpenko Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Belarus.

Igor Karpenko was recommended to this position by Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also appointed new governors in Vitebsk Oblast and Mogilev Oblast. Aleksandr Subbotin was appointed chairman of the Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee. Anatoly Isachenko became chairman of the Mogilev Oblast Executive Committee.

“As for the Central Election Commission, Igor Vasilyevich understands perfectly well that if the people support the proposed Constitution (changes to the Constitution), most likely, your candidacy will still be submitted to the Belarusian People's Congress for approval. Secondly, we are still to face difficult times, starting with the referendum. You are an experienced person, and you know what these election campaigns are like. Then for the first time in our history we will elect our councils and the parliament, the legislative body, on a single voting day. And then, of course, there will be the presidential election: it may seem far away, but it is not that far. Everything will depend on the situation in our country,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“We can say that you will literally have to leap out of a frying-pan into the fire. Most likely you will be the first chairman of the CEC to be elected by the Belarusian People's Congress if the people support the new Constitution,” the President said.

In his words, the draft Constitution provides for certain changes so that the election process would be more independent and so that people would not have any suspicions that the executive power or the head of state press on the election process via CEC and the territorial election commissions.

“This is a very responsible post in the country. By proposing such changes to the Constitution regarding the CEC, we are raising the role of the Central Election Commission. I reiterate: you are a highly-qualified specialist. You have directly participated in the recent elections. I really expect that you will do well at this responsible job,” the Belarusian leader said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the need for a very careful approach to selecting a candidate for the vacant key post of Education Minister. “This job will not go anywhere from you. We are also waiting for proposals on the new minister from you. As for the Education Ministry, you will have to deal with this kind of work until the new minister gets into the swing of things. Let us be frank, as CEC chairman you will have little time to be involved in the education system. Do not forget about that,” the President said to Igor Karpenko.

Besides, the head of state appointed members of the Belarusian Central Election Commission along with new chairman Igor Karpenko. They are Vadim Ipatov, Yelena Baldovskaya, Denis Duk, Sergei Kalinovsky and Aleksandr Yuzhik.

“Aleksandr Mikhailovich [Subbotin], as far as I know, Vitebsk Oblast is your native land, and I feel that you love this region. Just like we all love the places where we worked for a long time and grew up. This is your everything,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said addressing the new governor.

The President recalled that Aleksandr Subbotin took an active part in working out new approaches to the development of Vitebsk Oblast, especially in agriculture, formation of integration structures on the basis of farms.

“When you were the vice premier we agreed to pay attention to the state of affairs in Vitebsk Oblast. We can no longer stay calm and watch how certain things are addressed there. They are addressed not in a way we were thinking,” the head of state stressed. “We agreed to look at some production associations – these integration structures – and make corresponding conclusions.”

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, the new governor should also focus on the issues he was in charge of. One of them is the development of Orsha Meat Packing Plant. Aleksandr Subbotin was in charge of this matter when he worked as deputy prime minister. The President also mentioned Miory Metal Rolling Mill. In his words, he plans to visit this enterprise and get familiar with its operation.

“There are many pending issues. It will be easy for you to get the hand of things. I also want to ask you one thing. Don’t’ forget about the previous governor regardless of the job he will have in the future. Governors never stay on the sidelines as they have made their contribution to the development of regions. But we need new people,” the head of state stressed.

Anatoly Isachenko is also familiar with Mogilev Oblast. He began his career as senior engineer at a farm in Gorki District. Later he occupied leading positions at district executive committees, worked as deputy chairman of the Mogilev Oblast Committee.

“I am very happy that you feel uncomfortable in the office, that you need active work,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked. “I like your strategic thinking, I saw it in Minsk Oblast [before the appointment to the Council of the Republic Anatoly Isachenko worked as chairman of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee]. Therefore, you also return to your native land, this is the staff turnover.”

Current governor of Mogilev Oblast Leonid Zayats became a member of the Council of the Republic. According to the President, he has done a lot for the development of the region. “He was concerned about Mogilev Oblast,” the head of state said. “There are no conspiracy theories here either. Leonid Konstantinovich [Zayats] said that he was ready to work at a new post.”