BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

25/07/2007

Sacked KGB of Belarus chief rumored arrested

Stepan Sukhorenko and Vasil Dementey, who were fired from the positions of chairman and first deputy chairman of the Committee for State Security (KGB) of Belarus earlier this month, are rumored to have been arrested, but KGB and police officials have failed to confirm the allegation, according to daily Belorusskiye novosti.

Belorussky Partizan, an opposition online information source, reports that the former top KGB officials were arrested by interior ministry investigators and the Almaz special-task unit's staff on July 20.

When reached by news agency BelaPAN, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said that he had no such information, while KGB spokesman Valery Nadtachayew declined to comment on the report.

Sukhorenko and Dementey were sacked by President Aleksander Lukashenko "in connection with their transfer to other jobs" on July 17.

While introducing Sukhorenko's successor, Yury Zhadobin, to the KGB's top brass on July 19, Lukashenko pointed to "a decrease in professionalism in every area of the KGB's work," which he said "resulted in utter failures in a number of instances." The head of the state criticized the situation concerning the information protection at the KGB. "What is known to the KGB is known to the whole country. It is shameful of the KGB".

The former KGB leadership failed to make a comprehensive effort to ensure state security by modern methods, Lukashenko said while introducing the newly appointed chairman, Yury Zhadobin, to the Committee's staff on July 19, according to Belorusskiye novosti. "Of late, there has been a marked trend towards a decline in orderliness and executive discipline, as well as a decrease in professionalism in every area of the KGB's work. This resulted in utter failures in a number of instances," the Belarusian leader explained, according to government news agencies. He reportedly directed that the new KGB leadership should establish proper order in the organization. President Lukashenko suggested injecting young blood into the KGB staff. "We should recruit youths. Within a year we should cleanse the Committee and send into retirement those who have overstayed their welcome. There are many people like this here," he said. Unlike some senior KGB officers, young agents and operatives work "conscientiously and scrupulously," he added. With this in view he ordered the new KGB head "to sweep" the committee "over the year" and to dismiss those who have attained the retirement age limit. "There are enough such persons here", stressed the Belarusian President.

Lukashenko also gave a tough warning to the upper management of the KGB of impermissibility of their sticking to the business. "And as far as your certain commercial aspirations are concerned, be aware that we'll cut your hands up to the shoulders", Khartiya'97 is quoting President of Belarus as saying.

The "yellow press" is discussing instances of illegal activities of KGB officers, he said, stressing that KGB staff should not provide "krysha" (the post-Soviet region's criminal slang for protection, literally "roof") for commercial organizations. "As for certain commercial intentions of KGB officers, bear in mind that the arms will be axed to the shoulders. The KGB is not the place for people who provide krysha."

Source:

http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=1351

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