Who among the ministers in Lukashenka's personnel carousel can rest easy?
While the heads of economic departments change almost every year, the core of the security bloc has remained unchanged for more than five years.
On April 9, Lukashenka made new appointments of officials. Aliaksandr Tserekhau became Deputy Prime Minister responsible for construction in the government, and Marat Markau became Minister of Culture (he was previously Minister of Information). Dzmitry Zhuk became the new Minister of Information; before this, he headed the publishing house "Belarus Today," meaning he published the main state newspaper.
In Belarus, some specialized officials are changed almost every year, while others retain their positions for longer than one presidential term – 5 years. "Svaboda" looked into which of the current ministers and heads of influential state institutions are the main "long-livers" in their positions.
The Unchanged Security Bloc and Sports Minister
Former military officer and Lukashenka's security service employee Siarhei Kavialchuk has held his position longest among all active ministers – for more than 8 years. He was appointed in March 2018, when Belarus could perform in international competitions worldwide without any problems. Sanctions were introduced, Belarusian athletes could less often travel to perform in Western countries, but former security official Kavialchuk remained minister. His name is included in the sanctions lists of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine.
All other heads of ministries and influential departments who have held their positions for 5 years or more belong to the security bloc.
Lukashenka appointed Viktar Khrenin as Minister of Defense in January 2020; he has held the position for 6 years and 3 months.
Military personnel under Minister Khrenin were actively involved in suppressing protests in 2020. They guarded objects during mass protests and participated in "sweeps." For example, on August 11, 2020, Henadz Shutau died from a gunshot wound. He was posthumously convicted, and military personnel of special operations forces Warrant Officer Halitsyn and Captain Haurylau were victims in the case. According to Shutau's friend, Aliaksandr Kardziukou, these very servicemen shot at them, resulting in Henadz's death. Aliaksandr Kardziukou was sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony and is still behind bars.
KGB Chairman Ivan Tsertsel has held his position for 5 years and 7 months, having been appointed in September 2020. Before his appointment, Tsertsel held various leadership positions in the KGB and also briefly headed the State Control Committee.
Ivan Kubrakou has headed the Ministry of Internal Affairs since the end of October 2020, holding the position for 5 years and 5 months. Kubrakou was appointed to replace Yury Karayeu, who served as minister for 1 year and 4 months. Why Lukashenka replaced Karayeu right during the protests is still not entirely clear. But as a result, Ivan Kubrakou is called the architect of the system for suppressing protests in Minsk. Before his appointment as minister, he led the capital's security forces.
It is currently disadvantageous for the authorities to change him, believes Uladzimir Zhyhar, a representative of the association of former security officials BelPol.
"He led the suppression of protests in Minsk from October 2020. Before that, other people were in charge, but their effectiveness was assessed as low by the authorities. When Kubrakou was appointed, much of what he had implemented in Minsk began to be implemented elsewhere. He engaged with such animalistic enthusiasm, tried to apply some creativity in such conditions, and, of course, this satisfied Lukashenka," says Zhyhar.
Another "long-liver" in a responsible position is the State Secretary of the Security Council, Aliaksandr Valfovich. He was appointed in January 2021; the former First Deputy Minister of Defense has held this position for 5 years and 2 months.
Also, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee, Dzmitry Hara (5 years and 1 month), and the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Vadzim Sinyavski (5 years and 1 month), have held their positions for more than 5 years.
After 2020, 5 Ministers of Agriculture and 5 Ministers of Industry, 4 Ministers of Information, 3 Ministers of Culture, and 3 heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were changed.
Why the leadership of the security bloc is not changed for so long
Representatives of the security bloc retain their positions for so long because in 2020 they helped Lukashenka retain power, and he relies on them, says Pavel Latushka, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and former Minister of Culture.
"This is Lukashenka's foundation, which saved him from losing power in 2020. The security officials guarantee him continued relative security in his usurped position. He has not risked making changes here for a long time, as it would destabilize the situation in the security bloc. But after the events of 2020, he dismissed KGB Chairman Valery Vakulchyk, removed State Secretary Andrei Raukou, who expressed the opinion that the use of force against protesters was inappropriate, and in 2021, he removed Investigative Committee Chairman Ivan Naskevich because he proposed initiating cases against security officials involved in the repressions. He dismissed Interior Minister Yury Karayeu because he was very toxic. But they found them other positions — in civilian structures, giving them the right to a second life in these structures," recalls Pavel Latushka.
According to BelPol representative Uladzimir Zhyhar, from the authorities' point of view, the security bloc works well because no one needs to be convinced to stop the repressions.
"Regarding the part of the work entrusted to both Kubrakou and Tsertsel, Lukashenka has minimal questions. No one comes with a proposal to ease up, repressions are only intensifying. The regime does not want to disturb this system with new appointments. A new person would do something differently, there could be personnel changes – the system does not need this. Other ministers are changed because their effectiveness is low. But here, from the system's point of view, the task is being fulfilled, the security of the regime is being organized. However, this is when talking about political affairs and the political aspect, not about crime in general. Because there, the situation is actually deteriorating in a number of areas," notes Zhyhar.
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