"This Is A Record Of Departures From The Lukashenko Administration"
- 23.05.2025, 10:30
The reshuffle is unlikely to help the dictator.
On May 22, Alexander Lukashenko transferred Natalya Petkevich from the position of first deputy head of his administration to the post of deputy prime minister. She replaced Vladimir Karanik, who went to head the Academy of Sciences, and Vladimir Pertsov took her place from the post of mere deputy head of the administration. In the government, Petkevich will oversee the social block. Together with Petkevich, ex-head of the KGB and Investigative Committee Valery Vakulchik, appointed head of the Government Apparatus, has been sent to the government.
Why did Vakulchik get a "pension position", Petkevich moved "closer to the ground" and what happened to Karanik? These questions were discussed in a live broadcast "Belsat" with the political observer of Radio "Svaboda" Valeri Karbalevich.
- I would draw attention to the fact that Natalia Petkevich has been in office for less than a year, - says Valeri Karbalevich. - Vladimir Karanik has been in the post of deputy prime minister for two and a half months. And this personnel chaos shows that there is no stability in the state apparatus. If an official is appointed to another position after a short time, it is, in fact, an admission of a mistake by the "chief personnel officer. As for Natalia Petkevich, it is the third time she has left the presidential administration. Regarding her move to the post of Deputy Prime Minister, I wouldn't say it's a promotion. But as for the departures in the AP, this is a kind of record.
With regard to Valery Vakulchik, in 2020, he, as well as Yuri Karaev (then head of the Interior Ministry) were actually sent into retirement and exile. For five years they were in disgrace and now we see new appointments: Karaev was appointed chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee and Vakulchik was appointed head of the Apparatus of the Council of Ministers. One can say that Lukashenko forgave them the "sins of 2020".
As for Karanik, it seems that there is an urgent need to do something about the Academy of Sciences. The former head promised a lot, but did little. Even formal indicators, which relate to scientific activity - are decreasing. Especially now, when Belarus is under sanctions and international contacts of scientists are practically liquidated, the crisis in the Academy should be solved. Here, they threw Karanik "on the breakthrough", believing that he can change something. But the problem here is the social model that exists in Belarus - science is destined to be in a situation of degradation. And the change of personnel is unlikely to help here.