Staff Reshuffles Among Law-Enforcement Brass :: Charter'97 :: News

New staff rearrangements took place in the law-enforcement institutions of Belarus. Lukashenko appointed new deputy state secretary of the Security Council and replaced head of the Brest police. Fresh appointments also occurred in Vitebsk and Gomel KGB, as well as in the Defense Ministry. Radio Ratsya therefore foretells the beginning of another anti-corruption campaign.

Changes happened as a result of Lukashenko’s visits to the regions. The post of the new KGB chief in Vitebsk region will from now on be held by Vassil Dementei. Anatoly Tsakun will lead the Gomel special services, while his predecessor colonel Nikolai Korotkevich received a promotion, being appointed a deputy state secretary of the Security Council.

According to Ratsya, Alexander Lukashenko determined to launch another anti-corruption campaign, to be led by Nikolai Korotkevich. It is plausible that the Security Council will again form an anti-corruption unit, which, after Viktor Sheiman’s appointment as prosecutor general, was assigned to the procuracy.

Vladimir Shafarenko’s appointment as head of the department of internal affairs of the Brest regional council is also officially explained by the necessity to fight corruption. Colonel Shafarenko has great experience in dealing with organized criminality and corruption. For an extended period of time the man has been chairing a special anti-corruption police unit. Moreover, he even investigated into corruption matters amid the law-enforcers, when being a first deputy of the police security service.

Staff rearrangements also rocked the country’s armed forces. For instance, Yuri Merantsov was appointed as head of the personnel department. Sergei Tikhonenko will work as a commander of the 120th army brigade, where once served Lukashenko. Alexander Tyshkevich heads the notorious training center in Pechy.