Lukashenka replaces Miklashevich as prosecutor general with former Constitutional Court Chairman Vasilevich, appoints him Constitutional Court chairman

Alyaksandr Lukashenka, by his February 8 presidential edicts, appointed Ryhor Vasilevich to the post of prosecutor general instead of Pyotr Miklashevich and Mr. Miklashevich to the post of chairman of the Constitutional Court of Belarus instead of Dr. Vasilevich, BelaPAN reported.

Mr. Miklashevich was appointed prosecutor general on November 29, 2004. Prior to that appointment, he had been first deputy chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus.

Dr. Vasilevich was chairman of the Constitutional Court from January 1997 through January 2008. He was relieved of the post by a presidential edict dated January 11. The Belarusian leader’s press office then explained that the head of state had made that decision because of the expiration of Dr. Vasilevich’s term of office and his going into retirement.

Under the constitution, both new appointments must be approved by the Council of the Republic (upper parliamentary house).