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Lukashenka issues edict ordering punitive measures following his inspection of woodworking plant in Barysaw

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has issued a presidential edict ordering punitive and other measures following his November 8 visit to AAT Barysawdrew, a woodworking company in Barysaw, Minsk region, BelaPAN said.

According to the presidential press office, in particular, the Belarusian leader has dismissed Barys Batura from his position as head of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee and Alyaksandr Peraslawtsaw as head of the Belarusian State Timber, Woodworking, Pulp and Paper Industries Concern (Bellespaperapram) for failure to carry out the president’s orders regarding the modernization of Barysawdrew’s production facilities.

Mr. Lukashenka has also dismissed Andrey Tur from his position as deputy head of the Presidential Administration for failure to properly see to the modernization process at Barysawdrew and to properly prepare the plant for the president’s visit.

The head of state has issued severe reprimands to Andrey Kabyakow, head of the Presidential Administration; Alyaksandr Yakabsan, head of the State Control Committee; and Uladzimir Miranovich, head of the Barysaw District Executive Committee.

Mr. Lukashenka has ordered the Ministry of Architecture and Construction and the Minsk Regional Executive Committee to dismiss Mikalay Busalaw, director general of AAT Budawnichy Trest No. 21 (the company responsible for construction work on the grounds of the plant), and Alyaksandr Misiyuk, director general of design company KUP Instytut Barysawprayekt.

The head of state has appointed Mr. Peraslawtsaw to serve director general of Budawnichy Trest No. 21 instead of Mr. Busalaw.

Mr. Lukashenka initially directed that Mr. Batura should serve as director general of Barysawdrew and Mr. Peraslawtsaw should serve as Mr. Batura’s “aide,” but the edict suggests that the head of state later changed his mind.

The Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Control Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been ordered to institute criminal proceedings in connection with mismanagement and negligence discovered at Barysawdrew and bring criminal charges against those responsible.

Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich has been tasked with drawing up a report by December 10 on the implementation of presidential directives regarding the modernization of the woodworking industry. Mr. Lukashenka has ordered that on the basis of this report, the Presidential Administration should submit its proposals on a decision as to whether or not Uladzimir Syamashka should continue to serve in the position of first deputy prime minister.

The State Control Committee has been ordered to set up a working group to look into the modernization of the woodworking industry and the implementation of presidential directives given in this regard. The group’s findings should be submitted to the head of state before December 1.

Mr. Lukashenka has directed that all modernization work at Barysawdrew should be completed before June 1, 2014.

The modernization project, estimated at €80.6 million, was initially scheduled to be carried out by December 2009. After visiting Barysawdrew in November 2012, Mr. Lukashenka fired the then head of Bellespaperapram, appointed Mr. Peraslawtsaw to the position and set a new deadline of November 7, 2013.