Anatol Lyabedzka: “Personnel reshufflings in benefit of Viktar Lukashenka”

Leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka thinks group of Viktar Lukashenka has taken advantage of the consequences of 4 July explosion: “They are drinking campaign now. The personnel reshufflings are profitable for them.”

Lyabedzka doesn’t consider the new heads of the Presidential Administration, the KGB and State Secretary of the Security Council to be significant political figures unlike Viktar Sheiman and Ivan Tsitsyankou.

“Remind, when Tsitsyankou dismissed, next executive secretaries of president were rather small figures. The same is now... They need time for adaptation, cumulating of political capital to influence the situation. Alyaksandr Lukashenka will remain to be a main player, what concerns other persons, he has no strong figures except for his son Viktor in his team,” the politician told in an interview to Radio Svaboda.

According to Lyabedzka, Yury Zhadobin didn’t get higher of lower post, it has remained on the same level. He, an army general, was an occasional figure on a post of secret services head, and hasn’t become an influential figure.

Uladzimir Makei has moved up on the power vertical, moreover he mounted some flights of steps, Lyabedzka thinks.

“I came across with Makei during work in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. his personality arouses sympathy. He never shied away from meetings with representatives of the political opposition and was open for talks, demonstrated his adherence to European values. However, it’s difficult to say today if it was his views or just a reaction to the place. At the same time he is close to Viktar Lukashenka and his team,” the politician said.

Anatol Lyabedzka is sure the authorities will use personnel shuffling to show the old guard, involved in kidnapping of politicians, is leaving the stage, new people are coming and it means he can turn over a new leaf in the relations with Europe.

“A peculiar feature of the Belarusian authorities is that they are able realise two plans simultaneously, which stay in contradiction with each other from the first glance: demonstrating of liberalisation to the West and tightening repressions in the country,” Lyabedzka believes.