Lukashenko Launches Staff Reshuffles in Cabinet :: Charter'97 :: News

Alexander Lukashenko dismissed the Minister of healthcare Vladislav Ostapenko. In course of today’s government’s session the head of state demanded that the Minister “leave the room”. The resignation followed after the incumbent inquired from the ex-Minister “How many private structures were evicted from the hospitals and policlinics?”. The Minister couldn’t give any satisfactory answer, reports Interfax. As we said before, during the recent months Lukashenko entitled the Committee for state control to thoroughly examine the Belarusian healthcare system, which resulted in a series of loud dismissals and institution of legal action against medics.

During the session Lukashenko also freed from the occupied posts directors of “Bellesbumprom”, “Bellegprom”, “Belgospischeprom” and “Belbiofarm” as well as reprimanded the Prime Minister Gennady Novitsky and the “Belneftehim’s” president Ivan Bambiza.

Lukashenko’s criticism was caused by the fact that only 6 out of the total 12 vital economic growth parameters have been fulfilled in the first quarter of the year. The head of state seriously criticized the government for a 6,2% fall in the export of the Belarusian commodity, 10% under-funding of a series of state programs, insufficient investments in the economy.

Lukashenko also stressed that salary arrears in the country are of a chronic nature. In particular, 60% of the total indebtedness falls on the economy’s agricultural sector.