Lukashenka Transfers Chief of General Staff to His Administration

Reform.news Editorial Team · 28 September 2026, 11:48

https://reform.news/en/lukashenka-transfers-chief-of-general-staff-to-his-administration/

Lukashenka Transfers Chief of General Staff to His Administration

Aliaksandr Lukashenka has appointed Pavel Muraveika deputy head of his Administration. Previously, Muraveika served as Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister.

Uladzimir Bely will replace Muraveika at the General Staff. He previously served as deputy defence minister. He is 49 years old and holds the rank of major general. Before being appointed deputy defence minister in July 2026, he headed combat training for the Armed Forces. Earlier, he commanded the Western Operational Command and headed the General Staff faculty at the Military Academy. He served in mechanized units and special operations forces.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka explained Muraveika’s appointment by saying he wanted an alternative point of view.

“The main thing is that, as president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, it is very important for me to have several alternative points of view on the situation in our security units. In my view, you are suited to this role.

An alternative, competing point of view must exist at the highest level. I need that. I want our Armed Forces to be prepared for the most serious clashes and engagements so that we can avoid them. Our only goal is to defend the piece of land on which we live,” he said.

According to Lukashenka, Muraveika should now be “independent of everyone,” including the State Secretariat of the Security Council and the Defence Ministry.

“Absolutely no one recommended you for this position. So you should be independent of everyone. No one! This was a proposal of mine that came as a surprise to Dzmitry [Krutoi, head of the Administration, ed.] and to the military, the State Secretariat, and so on. Although I instructed the state secretary to speak with you before appointing you to this position. As I understand it, that conversation took place. As Aliaksandr Ryhoravich Volfovich informed me, you discussed this with him. He conveyed all my plans to you,” he said.

It should be noted that previously there were no deputies “for military affairs” in Lukashenka’s Administration. He pointed this out when addressing the new Chief of the General Staff.

“From today, or perhaps tomorrow, he will be under the president’s close scrutiny, and perhaps even pressure, not only through the State Secretariat but also through the Presidential Administration.

That is how life works. No hard feelings — you know my approach. I must know everything that is happening in the Armed Forces,” he added.

Lukashenka believes Muraveika’s experience at the General Staff makes him well suited to the role.

“Because, apart from being a capable security official, you have the experience of the General Staff. The General Staff is the General Staff: all the expertise comes together there, and it is from there that the Armed Forces are commanded, regardless of the system that exists in the country. But you also have an administrative streak, a certain knack for administration. I noticed that during the previous campaign. And it is not because you were a presidential confidant — that is important too, but it is not the main thing,” he said.

He also sought to dispel what he described as possible speculation.

“There will be a lot of speculation, certain statements, and so on: ‘Lukashenka has “given in” to the security services and “appointed” a former Chief of the General Staff to the Presidential Administration. This is related to strengthening some component of the security services.’

If it is convenient for someone to say and speculate that, so be it. I have absolutely no objection. But the strengthening of this component — the security sector and its role in our country — is natural. We see what is happening around our country. As president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, it is very important for me to have several, if you will, alternative points of view on the situation in our security units.

If anyone wants to speculate, you are ready for that, Pavel Mikalaevich, because we live in such a world. Everyone earns their bread as best they can, including our fugitives. That is their business,” Lukashenka said.

He also sought to dispel rumors about his personal ties with Muraveika.

“Anyone who says that you are practically the president’s own brother is mistaken, because I hardly knew you before you became Chief of the General Staff. And I do not have this kind of ‘one of us or one of them’ approach. Everyone sitting at this table is close to me. You have passed a serious test and traveled a path together with me,” he said.