Industry And Construction Ministers "Dismissed" By Lukashenka Stay At Work

Meanwhile, there is no Energy Minister in Belarus for three and a half months.

In May, Uladzimir Patupchyk was dismissed from this position, Radio Svaboda reports.

Employees in the reception offices of Industry Minister Vitaly Vouk and the Minister of Architecture and Construction Anatol Charnou told reporters that they remained in their places. As of the morning of August 16, the websites of the ministries still enlist them as the leaders of the ministries. Decrees about their resignation have not been made public at the moment.

"Vouk, Chorny should be dismissed immediately," – Lukashenka ordered at the meeting in Vorsha on August 14. In addition, Lukashenka threatened Vouk with imprisonment or an assignment to the plant.

On August 14, Lukashenka also instructed to find a new leader for the Vorsha district. He was found the very next day and the district was headed by Ihar Isachenka, who had previously been

the Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Architecture and Construction of the Vitsebsk Oblast Executive Committee.

Lukashenka expressed severe reprimands to Mikalai Sharstneu, the head of the Vitsebsk region, Stanislau Zas, the chairman of the Military Industrial Committee and secretary of the Security Council, for a "complete incompetency." But a "complete mismatch" is not a mandatory ground for dismissal.

Will any Energy Minister appear?

When speaking to the "deputies" of the "House of Representatives" and the people on April 24, Lukashenka was outraged by the work of the Energy Ministry. After this speech the ministry informed of the dismissal of Yauhen Voranau, the CEO of the Belenergo concern.

May 2, Uladzimir Patupchyk, the Belarusian Energy Minister, was dismissed for "illegal family business." As the KGB chairman said, the former minister was involved in supply of construction materials at artificially high prices. The new minister has not been appointed for three and a half months.