Officers Against Lukashenka

The list of officers to be deprived of ranks could have been shortened so as not to show how many opponents of the regime are in the power structures.

The national legal Internet portal of Belarus has published a list of former military men, investigators and police officers whom Lukashenka stripped of their military and special ranks for political reasons. In total, 87 former security officials were demoted. They were stripped of their titles, and hence the corresponding pensions. Despite this, the officers themselves consider it an honor to be included in Lukashenka's black list, Belsat reports.

Lukashenka signed a decree on the deprivation of military and special ranks of his opponents the day before yesterday. Yesterday the names became known: 87 officers, from colonel to senior sergeant, who are in reserve, who are retired. They were stripped of their titles for the fact that since August they have disagreed with the lawlessness, murder and torture of peaceful protesters.

The list includes long-known officers who oppose Lukashenka, for example, the head of the United Civil Party, reserve police colonel Mikalai Kazlou, or retired special forces colonel Uladzimir Baradach. There are those who have recently shown their position: former investigator and now IT specialist Yauhen Yushkevich - now he is held in the KGB pre-trial detention center; the former head of the Minsk regional traffic police, reserve police colonel Siarhei Maslouski, who was tortured in the Akrestsin Street detention center; Lieutenant Colonel of the police in reserve Stanislau Lupanosau, a former employee of the Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption.

“In my opinion, the list was deliberately shortened so as not to show people and other officers who remained in the system, the number of those who left it and condemned the actions immediately after the elections,” said former investigator, Major of Justice Ihar Loban.

In ByPol they knew about the stripping of their ranks and were ready for it, says Ihar Loban, also accused of terrorism. At least 10 of his colleagues, who left the authorities publicly to express protest, did not fall under the decree.

“The decree will be in effect as long as Lukashenka remains in power. But I am absolutely sure that everyone will be restored to their titles and class ranks,” Loban is sure.

The list of officers deprived of their rank became a sign of quality for Valer Kostka, who served in the KGB in the early years of Belarus' independence.

“The officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the KGB, the Prosecutor's Office, the Investigatory Committee did not agree. They filed reports and quit. By this, they preserved their officer's honor and dignity, since they did not go against the law. And that was the right thing to do,” Valer Kostka is convinced.