Personnel reshuffle to cripple KGB? :: Charter'97 :: News

“Personnel reshuffle have never done good for professionalism of these institutions. Since the time of U. Matskevich resignation, professionalism of KGB officers was gradually declining. It seems to me that this time the same thing will happen, all the more so that the KGB has been headed by unprofessional “chekist”, a resigned lieutenant colonel Valery Kostka commented on cadres reshuffle in the special services to “Nasha Niva”.

As for Sukharenka, it seems to me that this person has served his purpose, and the time has come to resign for him. At the same time, power ministries are trying to dispose of people who become independent figures, like it was in situation with Paulouski (the chairman of the State Committee of Border Troops), and now with Sukharenka. I shouldn’t be surprised if Shpileuski (chairman of the state Customs Committee) will be the next. Sukharenka was obviously Viktar Sheiman’s henchman, that is why his dismissal and dismissal of the chairman of Minsk regional executive committee Damashkevich undermine the position of the Security Council Secretary and mends fences of Viktar Lukashenka. I have never liked Stsyapan Sukharenka’s activities, but I fear that with Zhadobin the KGB would finally turn into Okhranka (Secret police department in tsarist Russia), which would defend interests of only one person”.

“It is obvious that some game had been played before that. Possibly Sukharenka expected his dismissal and decided to gamble on espionage story. I do not exclude that an agreement between the KGB and FSB could exist. Lukashenka declares a desire to make advances to the West, and simultaneously the KGB uncovers Polish spies. It is even more surprising considering that they were arrested in winter. And the information has been revealed only now,” Valery Kostka added.

“In connection with the rhetoric about a desire to improve relations with the West this step is absolutely logical, as all people involved in political repressions in Belarus are to be vacate offices. But one can but guess is it really so. I am convinced that Sukharenka’s dismissal is to weaken the KGB. In general, it seems to me that the State Security Committee is gradually turning into a Committee of top officials’ security. As for my personal opinion, it is undoubtedly good news for me,” a political analyst Alyaksandr Klaskouski said.

It was with Stsyapan Sukharenka’s backing which contributed to adopting the amendments to the Code of Penal Procedure by the “chamber of representatives” in December 2005. Then Article 193 was adopted. Under this article a punishment of two years of imprisonment was introduced for activities on behalf of an unregistered organization.