BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

20/07/2007

Belarusian President Explains Reasons For KGB Leadership Reshuffle

President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on June 20 indirectly confirmed that he dismissed Stsyapan Sukharenka as chairman of the Committee for State Security (KGB) and Vasil Dzemyantsey as deputy chairman because of the assault by KGB officers last week on Zyanon Lomats, chairman of the State Monitoring Committee, Belapan reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," July 19, 2007). "I believe that the prosecutor-general and the present leadership of the KGB and the Interior Ministry will clarify what happened [with Lomats] within the framework of a criminal case," Lukashenka said while introducing the new KGB chairman, Yury Zhadobin, to the KGB staff. "I will not tolerate the creation of tensions in the country, a situation in which people, especially high-ranking officials who should work without disturbance, are afraid to make decisions or, God forbid, are afraid to walk on the street," Lukashenka said. Lukashenka also criticized the KGB for what he described as frequent information leaks and "a decrease in professionalism in every area of the KGB's work." "If the leadership of the committee cannot ensure efficient operation, this means that it's time to take a job that requires a smaller amount of responsibility and stand down in favor of others. These are the motives behind the president's decision to change the leadership of the KGB," Lukashenka said. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/07/3-cee/cee-200707.asp