English

Vasilevich dismissed from position as prosecutor general

Alyaksandr Lukashenka on September 20 dismissed Ryhor Vasilevich from his position as prosecutor general and appointed Alyaksandr Kanyuk, formerly deputy chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus, instead of him.

According to the presidential press office, speaking to Mr. Kanyuk on Tuesday, the Belarusian leader said that Mr. Vasilevich would do a different job. He warned that no one should believe that the president no longer liked Mr. Vasilevich. “He is our man,” Mr. Lukashenka said. “He is loyal to our state. That is why we’ll use him in scientific research if he wants – he works much in this area – or as an educator or in some government position. It is up to him to choose, and we’ll decide where he will work. He has great experience and great knowledge as a lawyer. I value this very much and he certainly will not get out of the circle.”

Mr. Lukashenka noted that the newly appointed prosecutor general should use the experience of Mr. Vasilevich. “He is a smart man and that is why I’ll be only happy if you maintain good business relations with him,” the head of state said.

Mr. Vasilevich, who was born in Minsk in 1955 and graduated from the law department of Belarusian State University in 1980, served as chairman of the Constitutional Court of Belarus between 1997 and 2008. He was relieved of the position on January 11, 2008. The presidential press office then explained that the head of state had made the decision because of the expiration of Mr. Vasilevich’s term of office and his going into retirement. However, after less than a month, on February 8, 2008, Mr. Vasilevich was appointed prosecutor general. //BelaPAN