By Andrei Makhofsky
Alexander Lukashenko standing with Vladimir Putin and Leonid Kuchma at the Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk in 2001
Minsk - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (click here) named a former diplomat omat who had been overseeing the defence industry as prime minister on Thursday, two months before a presidential election which poses his biggest political challenge in years.
Roman Golovchenko, who was previously head of the state military-industrial committee, replaces Sergei Rumas, who was dismissed with his entire government on Wednesday after less than two years in office.
The appointment of a man with experience in the defence sector is intended to consolidate power and signals Lukashanko’s readiness to get tough if necessary to hold on to power, political analysts said.
“Today is not the time for breaking things. It’s not even time to build,” said Lukashenko, who portrays himself as a guarantor of stability. “Today it is necessary to save what has already been built.”...
Roman Golovchenko, who was previously head of the state military-industrial committee, replaces Sergei Rumas, who was dismissed with his entire government on Wednesday after less than two years in office.
The appointment of a man with experience in the defence sector is intended to consolidate power and signals Lukashanko’s readiness to get tough if necessary to hold on to power, political analysts said.
“Today is not the time for breaking things. It’s not even time to build,” said Lukashenko, who portrays himself as a guarantor of stability. “Today it is necessary to save what has already been built.”...
