Most scandalous dismissals of the year

In 2014 members of bureaucratic elite were ousted in a low-key and enigmatic way.

“Salidarnasts” recalls who has been made to leave their positions since the beginning of the year.

Aleh Pralyaskouski

In June 50-year-old Aleh Pralyaskouski (Oleg Proleskovsky) was deprived of the position of the Information Minister. The official, who had been in charge of the ministry for almost 5 years, had become an infamous figure lo

ng ago. It’s enough to recall “Avtoradio” liquidation and attempts to ban “Nasha Niva” and “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper. The official was replaced by deputy minister, Lidziya Ananich.

The reason for Pralyaskouski’s dismissal was not announced. Half a year has passed, but he has not received a new appointment.

Andrei Kharkavets

Though there are no official comments on the dismissal of the Finance Minister Andrei Kharkavets in July, there are hardly any questions about the reasons of his ousting.

According to BelaPAN, the 50-year-old official was ill since the beginning of the year, and was undergoing treatment in one of European countries, in fact he stopped carrying out his duties as a minister.

Andrei Kharkavets had been ruling the ministry for 6 years, and he was replaced by his assistant, a 53-year-old Uladzimir Amaryn (Vladimir Amarin).

Alyaksandr Yakabson

In August a 63-year-old Alyaksandr Yakabson quitted the State Control Committee. According to the press-service of the president, the reason for his dismissal was transfer to another job.

It’s true, soon it was reported that Alyaksandr Yakabson was appointed a presidential aide and the chief inspector of Minsk. In order to demonstrate that the official does not have problems in relation with the president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka personally met with him when he was appointed to the new position.

The new head of the State Control Committee is a 60-year-old Leanid Anfimau, who had been working as Yakabson’s deputy.

Leanid Kozik

Leanid Kozik, who had been the chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus for 12 years, asked the council of the FTUB to relieve him from his position on September 22. The reason for such step, articulated by his spokesperson, sounded rather strange: a 67-year-old Leanid Kozik decided to quit now, so that within the year before the next congress of the FTUB, people could take a closer look at new candidates.

A month later the resignation was accepted. The new head of the FTUB is Mikhail Orda (48 y.o.).

Natallya Pyatkevich

In early October Alyaksandr Lukashenka dismissed Natallya Pyatkevich, who had been working with him for many years, from the position of the presidential aide. The press-service informed that the official was dismissed “upon a mutual agreement of the parties.”

According one of the versions, she was not forgiven for the episode with pranker Vovan, who presented himself as a son of Viktor Yanukovcyh, and managed to speak to Alyaksandr Lukashenka. The voice of the assistant with whom the pranker communicated, resembled the voice of Natallya Pyatkevich.

The former aide of the head of the state had been working in the presidential administration and beside Alyaksandr Lukashenka for 20 years.

Mikalai Ladutska

In early November the leader of the state dismissed Mikalai Ladutska, a 55-year-old chairman of Minsk city executive committee. Earlier Alyaksandr Lukashenka criticized the official many times, including the disastrous investment policy and corruption, and even threatened to arrest him.

According to unofficial information, Mikalai Ladutska, who had been working as the head of Minsk for 4 years, could be sent as an Ambassador of Belarus to China. He was replaced by the former minister of housing and public utilities minister Andrei Shorats, who has turned 41 this year.

Alyaksandr Shpileuski

Besides, the post a 61-year-old chairman of the State Customs Committee Alyaksandr Shpileuski was taken away in November. He had been the head of the state agency since 2001. Alyaksandr Lukashenka appointed a 47-year-old Yury Syanko, previously the head of Minsk regional customs office, to his position with no reason given.

The head of the state said to the new leader: “I must say honestly, I have an impression that we start to slow down to some extent in certain spheres. By no means should we slow down! And your task is – proceeding from what has been done, by your efforts as well; it should be developed, we should advance, and all the more so as our country is becoming the only transit corridor from East to West.”

Yury Zhadobin

On November 25 a 60-year-old Yury Zhadobn lost his post as Defense Minister. The head of the state noted in his decree that he was transferred to the retired reserve because of his age.

An expert Alyaksandr Alesin noted: “Lukashenka has taken in consideration lessons of Ukraine, where the army proved to be combat-ineffective, unable to respond to internal and external challenges. And practically, re-equipment of the army has not been carried out.”

The new Defense Minister of the country is a 47-year-old Andrei Raukou, a Belarusian, who had been drilled in “Kremlevka”.

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Thus, in 2014 the state posts had been vacated by many members of the bureaucratic elite, who had been working at high positions for many years. In addition, it should be noted that most high-profile dismissals has not been explained to citizens, thought officials are told to be working for the people. Only one man is to decide whether high-ranking officials are guilty, and how they are to be punished for that.