Alyaksandr Lukashenka, speaking at a meeting on the “One District – One Project” initiative, positioned himself as a defender of officials against what he described as excessive oversight.
In his opening remarks, he referred to “empty control and monitoring activity”, later expanding on the issue.
“I simply want to emphasise — to the government, to the governors, and especially to our parliamentarians. Vasil Herasimau (chairman of the State Control Committee — ed.) has understood this. Under no circumstances should we cross a certain red line in relations with our society and our people. We must not put such pressure on people that they (especially managers) will look over their shoulder at every rustle. People want to live freely in their own country”, he said.
Lukashenka noted what he described as excessive zeal among some subordinates of the State Control Committee chairman.
“This exists — perhaps not with Herasimau, but with his subordinates and others — to come and show their zeal. And that zeal can have serious consequences”, he continued.
He added that such cases should be addressed by the government and regional executive committees. According to him, they cannot instruct the chairman of the State Control Committee directly, but they can appeal to Lukashenka, who would then issue instructions.
Lukashenka also stressed that detentions should be based on operational information held by law enforcement agencies, rather than carried out indiscriminately.
“If there is no such information, there is no need to knock on a person’s door with an iron boot. Under no circumstances”, he said.
“We must exert relentless pressure on bribe-takers, fraudsters, swindlers and those who want to destroy the country. There should be no forgiveness here. But going around and sweeping up everyone indiscriminately in the country is absolutely unacceptable”, Lukashenka concluded.
