President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has made regular appointments, the Presidential Administration informs. Decree on the reassignment of four ministers (justice, communication and information, taxes and duties, trade) was signed by the President on February 22 in accordance with paragraph 7 of Article 84 of the Constitution of Belarus.
Thus, Viktor Golovanov was appointed the Minister of Justice, Nikolai Pantelei — Minister of Communications and Information, Vladimir Poluyan — Minister of Taxes and Duties, Valentine Chekanov — Minister of Trade. Meanwhile, all of them used to occupy the same positions in the government under the authority of former Prime Minister Sergei Sidorski.
In addition, the President also signed a decree on conferring military ranks, special ranks and class rank on February 22. For example, Interior Minister, Major General Anatoli Kuleshov was assigned to the special military rank of lieutenant general of militia.
Deputy Commander of North-Western Operational Command, Colonel Andrei Ravkov was conferred the military rank of Major General. Force Commander of Special Operations colonel Oleh Belokonev was conferred the military rank of Major General.
Class rank of State Counselor of Justice of the third class was assigned to the prosecutor of Brest voblast Sergei Hmaruk. Chairman of the Belarusian Military Court, Colonel of Justice Alexander Koniukov was conferred the military rank of Major General of Justice.
As Telegraf previously reported, three of these officials — Anatoli Kuleshov, Viktor Golovanov and Sergei Hmaruk — were denied entry into the European Union. The EU countries decided on the introduction of visa sanctions against these officials, as well as another 155 representatives of the Belarusian authorities, in connection with the events of December 19 in Minsk. The European Union banned the officials, responsible, according to the European Ministers, for the crackdown on opposition on Election Day, to enter its territory.
