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Mechyslau Hryb: Intelligence Agencies Can Use Classified Information against the Regime

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Mechyslau Hryb: Intelligence Agencies Can Use Classified Information against the Regime
Mechyslau Hryb
Photo: Radio Svaboda

Many people in the power structures just did not have enough time to go over to the people's side.

The BYPOL initiative, which unites security officials who opposed the regime, reported that a large number of employees disloyal to the regime were found in the KGB. The purges also affected KGB retirees: Ivan Tsertsel signed a list of ex-officers who, due to disloyalty, should be deprived of KGB employees' pension and medical benefits. Charter97.org spoke with the Supreme Council's former chairman and retired police lieutenant general Mechyslau Hryb about the situation in the security forces.

- How dangerous can the disloyalty of a part of the special services be for Lukashenka's power?

- Of course, they can be dangerous for the authorities because these people have access to classified information. Those who do not work there may have connections with those who work. They can use this information so that they will get rid of these people.

- In recent months, there have been many leaks of information about the negotiations of high-ranking security officials: the ex-head of the KGB Zaitsau, the former head of the GUBOPIK, and now the deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Karpiankou. Some of the leaks point to Lukashenka's involvement in high-profile crimes to eliminate opponents and his direct orders to shoot protesters. Can we say that the special services have accumulated quite a lot of dirt on Lukashenka?

- I don't know, but we can assume. If the special services set themselves such a task for themselves - to collect this material, then this will be more than enough. It can be assumed that they have a lot of material, but again, as they say, it can be assumed that he himself did not see, did not hold in his hands, it is difficult to assert something.

- Can they use this compromising evidence to ensure their safety in the event of a government change and get guarantees, exposing the one who gave the orders?

- Of course, they can use this material as their defense. We must bear this in mind. But the fact is that the execution of criminal orders, whatever they may be, does not absolve a person from responsibility. It can be recognized as some kind of mitigating circumstance in the analysis of the case materials. Still, they do not have a guarantee of release from responsibility because they carried out the criminal order.

- What else can leaks of information for official use speak about? In your opinion, what part of the siloviki is dissatisfied with the regime or at least admits its fragility?

- I do not know. Firstly, different people are working there: those who are ready to carry out any order, those who think before executing the order, and those who believe that they will never carry out a criminal order. There are different people. It is difficult to say how many of them are and what percentage ratio is between them because no one talks about it. These materials are closed, no one has seen them, no one knows.

- In December, you said that "Lukashenka does not protect either his citizens, or his entourage, or those who are far or close. He is obsessed with power." Do you think law enforcement agencies understand this?

I think they understand. They have to understand because they are directly "on the front line" and follow these orders. They understand this and draw conclusions, I think.

- Under what conditions will the special services and the police go over to the side of the people or at least begin to sabotage criminal orders?

- I think that such options are not excluded. The fact is that this moment may come when they see that they have a real advantage on the side of the people.

In August, they were confused because the mass of people is a very formidable force. They were really afraid, but they just didn't have enough time to cross to the other side. After all, they also did not know what awaited them. It is unknown there, and it is unknown here. Then there were no appeals, no guarantees, so the security officials were at a loss.

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