Presidential Security Service of Belarus
Служба бяспекі прэзідэнта Рэспублікі Беларусь (Belarusian)
Common namePresidential Security Service
AbbreviationSBP
Agency overview
Formed1994
Preceding agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionBelarus
Governing bodyPresidential Administration of Belarus
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Protection of international or domestic VIPs, protection of significant state assets.
Operational structure
HeadquartersMinsk
Agency executive
  • Dzmitry Šachrajeŭ, Commander

The Belarusian Presidential Guard or officially the Presidential Security Service (Belarusian: Служба бяспекі прэзідэнта Рэспублікі Беларусь, romanized: Sluzhba byaspyeki prezidenta, Russian: Служба безопасности Президента Республики Беларусь) is a law-enforcement body that was designed to protect the President of Belarus and other high-ranking officials and officers.

History

According to the US and the European Union, the Presidential Security Service and its commanders are actively involved in human rights violations and political repressions in Belarus.

Role during the referendum of 1996

According to the Belarusian opposition, the Presidential Security Service has played a key role in the events around the controversial referendum of 1996, which has resulted in the dissolution of the disloyal Supreme Soviet of Belarus and an ultimate concentration of state power in the hands of authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko.[1][2][3]

Before the controversial referendum, the Presidential Security Service has blocked the office of the Central Election Commission of Belarus[4] and prevented the Head of the commission, Viktar Hanchar from executing his role.[2] Lidia Yermoshina, a member of the Commission loyal to Lukashenko, has been appointed instead of Hanchar. Three years later, Viktar Hanchar has disappeared and was presumably murdered.

After the events, the United States State Department stated that the Presidential Guard is a secret police force under the control of President Alexander Lukashenko. The State Department in 1996 stated the guard was allowed to use force "against the President's political enemies with no judicial or legislative oversight."[5]

Sanctions against officers of the Presidential Guard

Several former Heads of the Presidential Security Service have been included in the sanctions lists of the European Union and the United States:[6]

Commanders

  • Vyacheslav Korolev (November 1994 - 1995)
  • Yuri Borodich (1995 - December 2, 1998)
  • Vladimir Kuzhanov (Acting) (December 2, 1998 - January 20, 1999)
  • Uladzimir Navumau (January 20, 1999 - September 25, 2000)
  • Leonid Erin (September 25 - November 27, 2000)
  • Gennady Nevyglas (December 4, 2000 - September 12, 2001)
  • Vladimir Klimov (Acting) (September 19, 2001 - October 5, 2001)
  • Evgeny Dvernitsky (October 5, 2001 - September 10, 2003)
  • Yuri Zhadobin (September 10, 2003 - July 17, 2007)
  • Andrey Vtiurin (July 17, 2007 - September 11, 2014)
  • Viktor Shinkevich (October 20, 2014 - December 21, 2016)

References

  1. "Андрей Климов: Если бы не предательство руководства Верховного Совета, Лукашенко не удалось бы совершить переворот" [Andrey Klimau:"If there wouldn't be a treason by the Supreme Soviet, Lukashenko would not have managed to organize his coup d'etat"]. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Виктор ГОНЧАР: "Я горд тем, что мне удалось сделать…"" [Viktar Hanchar:"I'm proud of what I've managed to do..."]. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  3. "Десять лет назад сотрудники Службы безопасности президента захватили Центризбирком" [Ten years ago, soldiers of the Presidential Security Service took over the Central Elections Commission] (in Russian). Belorussky Partizan. 20 November 2006. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  4. Ванкович, Александр (22 November 2016). "Интервью с Лидией Ермошиной: Пока ты в системе — ты должен быть лоялен к власти" [Interview with Lidiya Yermoshina: "As long as you are in the System, you have to be loyal to the authorities"] (in Russian). TUT.by. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  5. "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 1999". United States Department of State. February 23, 2000. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  6. Поўны спіс 208 беларускіх чыноўнікаў, якім забаронены ўезд у ЕС - Nasha Niva, 11.10.2011
  7. "OFAC Sanctions List Search". Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP of 15 October 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Belarus
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