Lukashenka appoints new man to head security council ahead of elections

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has appointed Stanislau Zas as Acting State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus. He will head the agency after Alyaksandr Myazhuyeu who last week was released from his post in connection with complicated family circumstances.

According to military expert and commentator Alyaksandr Alesin, Mr Zas is a man who delivers. Being a good, responsible employee, he is still not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He is always on the sidelines.

"He is an independent politician now, because the post of Secretary of the Security Council is a political position, and this position is not for him. He will fulfill this role until some head of law enforcement agencies or departments becomes available for the job after the election. Previously, people like that wree called spot keepers. Judging by what they say in the upper circles, I do not think that the President would want to replace the Chairman of the KGB or Interior Minister on the eve of the election campaign. "We must hold elections flawlessly" is the slogan of the president," said Mr Alesin.

The observers believes that after the elections the Security Council will be headed by a person whose regalia, titles and track record will make him a better match for this position. We should not expect from Mr Zas any decisive action, because the election "is the time more appropriate for stability than decisive action."

Mr Alesin: "Mr Zas will perfectly follow all instructions of the President. No initiatives are needed during the election period, that is why Mr Zas was appointed."

Euroradio info: Stanislau Zas was born in 1964 in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine. In 1985 he graduated from the Baku Higher Military Command School, in 1996 he graduated with honors and a gold medal from the Military Academy of Belarus, and in 2005 he graduated with honors and a gold medal from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. He has a PhD in Military Sciences and was awarded four medals. He served and worked in the Armed Forces, Interior Ministry, KGB and border troops.

Photo: vsr.mil.by