MOSCOW (RUSSIA) – In a bid to tighten his grip on the country, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko promoted hardline loyalists to key positions in the security apparatus on Thursday.
The leader, who is facing the biggest challenge in his 26-year rule, told the new office bearers to act tough against what he terms foreign aggression. “Belarus finds itself confronting an external aggressor one-to-one,” he said.
“Therefore I ask you to take this to the people. They shouldn’t condemn me for any sort of softness. There’s no softness here. The country is working, although many, especially our neighbours, would like us to collapse.”
It is vital for Lukashenko to retain the loyalty of his security forces who have helped him quell dissent. This comes as he tries to crush protests which are still going on.
Andrei Ravkov, head of the security council coordinating the work of all agencies, was replaced by Valery Vakulchik, who used to head the KGB security police.
Ivan Tertel, formerly head of the state control committee probing economic crime, has replaced Vakulchik. Tertel had led a probe against banker Viktor Babariko which led to the latter being banned from contesting against Lukashenko in last month’s election.
Another Lukashenko loyalist Vasily Gerasimov was appointed acting head of the control committee and Minsk Mayor Anatoly Sivak was nominated deputy prime minister.
