09MINSK106, BELARUS: INTERIOR MINISTER OUT, AT LONG LAST

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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
09MINSK106	2009-04-07 09:21	2011-08-30 01:44	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY	Embassy Minsk

VZCZCXRO1313
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSK #0106 0970921
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 070921Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0199
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK 0201

UNCLAS MINSK 000106 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR BO
SUBJECT: BELARUS: INTERIOR MINISTER OUT, AT LONG LAST 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Civil society has reacted positively to the news that 
Interior Minister Uladzimir Navumau (Vladimir Naumov) left 
office April 6; he ostensibly submitted his resignation based on 
health concerns, but is believed to have been dismissed. 
Navumau, who has been in charge of the Ministry of Internal 
Affairs (MVD) since September 2000 and was previously head of 
the anti-terrorist Almaz unit (often directed against public 
protestors) and the Presidential Security Service, is suspected 
of complicity in the disappearances of several democratic 
opposition leaders in 1999 and 2000 and features in the EU's 
visa ban list.  He has had a fairly public profile, on occasion 
appearing at independent protests together with uniformed 
police, where he personally exhorted the participants to 
disperse. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Navumau's position was considered to be in some 
jeopardy since the bombing at Belarusian national day 
celebrations early in the morning of July 4, 2008.  As was noted 
at that time, the fact that Belarusian KGB rather than Navumau's 
Ministry was initially placed in charge of the investigation was 
seen as a slap at Navumau and a way of making him a scapegoat 
for the incident.  According to some local speculation, his 
dismissal was prompted by general ineffectiveness and outcry 
that MVD embarked on a nationwide campaign to fingerprint every 
male and female adult citizen as part of continued investigative 
efforts. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) It is also speculated that senior GOB circles 
recognize the benefit of removing a figure so reviled by persons 
with Euro-Atlantic values, and will try to cast the step as a 
further indicator of reform. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Navumau's interim successor is Major General of Police 
and former Deputy Interior Minister Anatol Kulyashou.  Some 
press are reporting that Leonid Farmagey, current head of the 
Minsk police and recently promoted to Major General, will be the 
next Minister.  According to available data, Farmagey, born in 
1962, joined the police in 1983.  He was the deputy head of the 
Minsk traffic police (GAI) up to November 2000, when he was made 
the head of the Minsk GAI.  In November 2001, he became the 
national head of the GAI, also serving as deputy head of the 
police and head of the directorate for public order.  In March 
2007, Farmagey became the head of the police for the Vitebsk 
region, and he has been in his current assignment since August 
2008 (where he has evidently made a positive impression). 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) While the GOB clearly has no intention of adequately 
investigating the disappearances of political opponents in 1999 
and 2000, Navumau's removal, for whatever reason, is a good 
step.  That his potential successor has a background in public 
police work -- albeit by post-Soviet standards -- is also an 
improvement over Navumau's murky record.  Separately, there may 
be more opportunities for senior bilateral engagement with the 
MVD than was possible on Navumau's watch.  Ultimately, the value 
of Navumau's departure from office as a possible sign of reform 
will be affirmed if it is matched by other positive steps by the 
GOB. 
 
MOORE

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