Vitebsk remains without main ideologist

Local officials do not acquaint Vitebsk residents with changes in the city executive committee.

The name of Uladzimir Shloma, deputy head of the city executive committee responsible for education, sport, tourism, ideology, culture and youth, disappeared from the list of committee's officials. He obtained notoriety due to his negative attitude towards democratic activists, Viasna human rights centre reports.

Uladzimir Shloma was involved in the scandal about the dismissal of teacher and mother of former political prisoner Tatsiana Seviarynets when he worked as a deputy head of the Pershamaiski district education department in 2007. According to independent media, Shloma received his post at the education department when he was a university student. He was promoted to the head of the city education department after the dismissal of Tatsiana Seviarynets.

Uladzimir Shloma was appointed deputy head of the city executive committee in 2011. He was supervised the departments of education, sport and tourism, ideology, culture, youth affairs, the juvenile commission, the labour, employment and social protection directorate. He banned mass actions organised by Vitebsk activists several times. Local opposition members tried to apply to a court, but Uladzimir Shloma never attended trials, saying he was busy. He explained the bans on mass actions with the decision of the Vitebsk city executive committee, under which applicants must show service agreements to the local authorities. Activists couldn't sign agreements with medical services and the police, but the officials, in particular Shloma, refused to change their requirement.

In other words, it is due to Shloma that none events initiated by democratic activists have been permitted in Vitebsk since 2008.

Uladzimir Shloma continued to conflict with activist Tatsiana Seviarynets at his new post. In particular, he afforded impolite remarks during the discussion of the construction of a polyclinic in Biliova city district, the question that was raised by Seviarynets.

Uladzimir Shloma was reported some days ago to have been relieved of his duties. The information has not been confirmed officially. The city authorities don't think they must inform residents about personnel changes in the city committee. People can learn about it only on the committee's website: Shloma is no longer mentioned as the deputy head, and the post remains vacant.