Lukashenka sacks generals (Video)

Lukashenka finally came down on officials for a Swedish plane over Belarus.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka relieved from office head of the State Border Committee Ihar Rachkouski and commander of the Air Forces and Air Defence Forces Dzmitry Pakhmelkin. A number of top military officers received reprimands today, Interfax-Zapad news agency reports.

“Head of the State Border Committee Major General Ihar Rachkouski and Commander of the Air Forces and Air Defence Forces Major General Dzmitry Pakhmelkin were dismissed for improper discharge of official duties in ensuring the national security of the Republic of Belarus,” the presidential press service says.

Rachkouski is reported to be now at disposal of the State Border Committee. Pakhmelkin is reported to be at disposal of the Minister of Defence.

The press service informs Minister of Defence Lieutenant General Yury Zhadobin and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Defence Minister Major General Pyotr Tikhanouski received warnings for service incompetence.

State Secretary of the Security Council Major General Leanid Maltsau and Chief of the State Security Committee (KGB) Major General Vadzim Zaitsau received reprimands, the press service of the Belarusian president reports.

As charter97.org informed earlier, a light Swedish plane dropped teddy bears with pro-democracy leaflets over Belarus on early morning of July 4. The Ministry of Defence of Belarus said no facts of intrusion into the country's airspace had been recorded and claimed the video of the flight that appeared on the Internet was a hoax. Some days later, the Belarusian ruler admitted the Swedish aircraft had overflown the Belarusian border.