Belarus: Lukashenko reshuffles the leadership of security organs
Belarusian demonstrators face the police on August 30, 2020. Tut.By via AP
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, facing an unprecedented political crisis since coming to power, has reshuffled the leadership of the security organs of the former Soviet republic, the official Belta news agency reported Thursday (September 3rd).
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The bosses of the Security Service (KGB), the Security Council and the State Control Commission have been replaced.
Maintaining the loyalty of the security forces is essential for Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for 26 years and faces
an
unprecedented
protest movement
.
Ivan Tertel, former head of the State Control Commission, has been appointed head of the Security Service.
Valery Vakoultchik, former president of the State Security Commission, was appointed secretary of the country's Security Council, Belta said.
Alexander Lukashenko has also placed Vasily Gerassimov on an interim basis as head of the State Control Commission.
"
This reshuffle means that the Security Council will benefit from more power and that the KGB will concentrate its efforts on finding ways to fill the state coffers
", explains Andrei Paratnikau, head of the "Belarus Security Blog", l one of the country's leading independent analysis sites devoted to national security issues, which he founded in 2011.
“
In addition to OMON, the Belarusian special forces, the KGB also participates in the protection of the regime.
Even the army today is no longer just a security service but is also used to make people believe that Alexander Lukashenko is supported.
The military dressed in civilian clothes and were forced to take to the streets waving the official Belarusian flag to show their support for the president, as if they were ordinary citizens.
The army and border guards were also used to suppress protests.
In any case, the security apparatus works to ensure the survival of the Lukashenko regime
.
"
Security forces in Belarus are accused of mistreating, beating or torturing hundreds of protesters, charges the government rejects.
Two former television presenters, Denis Dudinsky and Dmitri Kokhno, were also arrested Wednesday evening in Minsk, according to their families and local media.
(with Reuters)
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