Łukašenka appoints hardliner as new chief of army General Staff
May 23, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has appointed Pavieł Muraviejka as chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, his press office reported.
He has filled the position that was vacant since May 10, after the Belarusian ruler dismissed Viktar Hulevič who reached the retirement age but could have served much longer.
A native of the Minsk region, Muraviejka served with the motorized rifle troops, reaching the battalion commander rank. He joined the General Staff in 2001 and was promoted to deputy chief in 2008 after graduating from Russian Military Academy.
Since February 2022, Muraviejka served as deputy state secretary of the Belarusian Security Council.
Muraviejka created a stir last year by saying that Belarus had every reason to cut a “vital corridor by force of arms” because Lithuania had allegedly banned the movement of goods across the border.
In December 2023, the European Union sanctioned him for involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Army General Staff without chief after Hulievič’s unexpected dismissal
Alaksandar Łukašenka on May 10 dismissed Major General Viktar Hulevič as chief of the General Staff and first deputy defense minister. In 2022, Hulevič was said to oppose Belarus' direct involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine. Grounds for resignation unclear …