High-ranking Officials Organized Sabotage And "revolt" Against Lukashenko

Not a good sign for a dictator.

Lukashenko had to hold a new meeting on Vitsebsk region not for the sake of discussing the draft decree, but to show local officials who's in charge here. After all, if they are no longer afraid of the supreme anger, it's a bad symptom for the ruler, writes political scientist Valeri Karbalevich in an article for "Radio Svaboda".

For the whole 2025, Alexander Lukashenko repeatedly mentioned Vitebsk region as a region of decline. To salvage the situation, a meeting on the development of the region was held in Vitebsk on October 24 last year. Then Lukashenko declared about "blatant facts of incompetence and negligence." But it seems that this meeting did not bring any results. Therefore, there was an urgent need to take new measures to save the situation.

January 15, Alexander Rogozhnik was appointed the new head of Vitsebsk region. It would seem that, according to normal logic, the new chairman of the regional executive committee should be given time to get used to his new position and get up to speed. But no. On February 3, Lukashenko unexpectedly held a new meeting on a topic that has become almost routine: what to do with Vitebsk voblast? Formally, the meeting was devoted to discussing the draft decree on postponing the payment of debts to this region.

But it seems that the meaning of the meeting is much deeper. Lukashenko rejected the draft decree because, in its current form, it is "worthless." But it is not necessary to hold such a large-scale meeting to refuse to sign this document. Therefore, apparently, this issue has a second layer, a hidden political subtext.

Lukashenko explained at the meeting why he was forced to remove the former head of Vitebsk region Alexander Subbotin from his post. And his story is quite revealing:

"Saying goodbye to the governor after the meeting (in October 2025 in Vitebsk. - BelTA Note), I thought that tomorrow he would run to one farm, to the second, to the third. At least he will talk to people, puzzle them. Nikitina (Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Anzhelika Nikitina) will run with others. And they did not run. We scanned ... Some people, according to operational information (we also monitored it), say: "Well, nothing, time will pass, everything will settle down". Gentlemen, it will not settle down! There is nowhere to settle down... Realizing that as it was, so it will be in Vitebsk region, I had to replace the governor".

There are two interesting points in this story. First, Lukashenko once again admitted that all officials are under surveillance, their behind-the-scenes conversations are bugged. This is now called "pro-monitoring." That is, not only oppositionists, but also high-ranking officials are being watched. In an unfree country, everything is "under control."

And this is what the "surveillance" showed. Not only Subbotin and Nikitina were in no hurry to fulfill Lukashenko's orders. It turns out that other high-ranking officials were also indifferent to his orders. They said: "everything will work out," and one shouldn't pay much attention to it. That is, they stopped being afraid of Lukashenko's anger. And it really hurt him.

But that's not all. Even more interesting details came to light. It turns out that when the head of the presidential administration, Dmitry Krutoy, presented the new chairman of the regional executive committee, Alexander Rogozhnik, to the region's leadership, according to Lukashenko, "the former governor was greeted with a storm of applause: "Ah, a good man!"

That is, the official who failed, who did not hurry to follow Lukashenko's orders, who almost disgraced himself, was highly respected by local officials. How is this possible? It is almost a "mutiny on the ship". And Lukashenko did not hide his indignation. And even got into an argument.

Addressing Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Anzhelika Nikitina, Lukashenko said:

"Mrs. Nikitina, for your information, so that you understand that a good person is not a profession. You can applaud all you want. But figures are the cruelest thing"

And Lukashenko began to cite figures proving how much Vitebsk region has failed:

"Exports of goods have collapsed to obscene values - one and a half times. This means that the country received almost $2 billion (according to statistics - $1.9 billion). No improvement in agriculture - minus 2.7% ... And that's to last year, which was also a failure..."

"Here's your applause for yourselves! - Lukashenko summarized and added: So before you rejoice that, here, Subbotin has protected the region ... Tell the new governor how it was."

It seems that Lukashenko had to hold a new meeting on Vitsebsk region not to discuss the draft decree, but to show local officials who's in charge here. After all, if they are no longer afraid of the supreme anger, it is a bad sign for the governor.

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