Zhadobin: Lukashenka’s rank is same as before presidency
A Euroradio reporter has managed to phone Minister of Defense Yury Zhadobin during his straight line and asked him about the military rank of
Alyaksandr Lukashenka, reserved officer.
— Heads of Regional Executive Committees became major-generals some time ago. What about Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s rank –a reserved officer in the position of the Belarusian state leader?
— To tell you the truth, I am not really aware of the situation and his rank. As any other President, he is the commander-in-chief. And his rank is the same as before the presidency. In fact, I have never wondered what rank it is and I cannot present the exact information to you.
— What is your attitude to situation when civilians occupy the position of the Minister of Defence? What about the cases when the person is a woman, like in Lithuania?
— There are certain peculiarities depending on the situation and the goals and tasks the Ministry of Defence is responsible for in every state. If the responsibilities of the military-political and military sectors are shared, a civilian may head a military department. But they will not decide on strategic issues, manoeuvres, tactics and the other things connected with military activities. They will deal with military-political issues. We do not need it at the moment and our military department is headed by a professional. It is the same is in the other state organs – the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry. The Ministers are not politicians, they are professionals. That is why it is like this in our country at the moment. It may change if something changes in the approach to the state organs. In general, I think that it may have a positive effect.
— Will our governor-generals make any strategic military decisions? Or is it the military-political type of administration?
— According to our legislation, we have territorial troops that are divided into zones and districts of territorial defence. According to the law, a governor is the head of a territorial defence zone. It imposes a lot of responsibilities on them. The system has existed for over 10 years. We have come to the conclusion that it is expedient. Military ranks were assigned accordingly.
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