Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Belarus
Power-struggles cause turmoil in Minsk security circles

Smear campaigns, orchestrated leaks and a coup plot: with Belarus' role in the war in Ukraine in the balance, the country's political and security elite have been struggling to have President Alexander Lukashenko's ear and the support of the intelligence services. [...]

Published on 12.04.2022 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 2 minutes

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 12.50)

1 option to continue reading

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

Unlimited access to the website

See our rates

Choose the option that suits you best: Compare all of our offers!

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

Read this article here:

Government Intelligence

Set up email notifications for these topics

Alexander Lukachenko
Alexander Volfovich
Belamova
Collective Security Treaty Organisation
FSB
Igor Sergeenko
Ivan Tertel
KDB
KGB
Nikolai Karpenkov
Telegram

Belarus
Minsk security agencies compete for attention amid fears for their futures

A handful of security chiefs, who are key to Alexander Lukashenko's hold on power, are jostling for position against a background of uncertainty about Wagner's position in Belarus.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 16.08.2023

Belarus
Belarusian border guards change chief as crisis brews

Lukashenko has replaced one of his most loyal security lieutenants, Anatoly Lappo, at the head of the State Border Committee as tensions rise at the country's borders. He has been replaced by Konstantin Molostov whose background reflects Minsk's short-term strategic thinking.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 09.06.2023

Belarus
Loyal lieutenant Nikolai Karpenkov prepares for post-Lukashenko

Acting on persistent rumours of President Alexander Lukashenko's possible replacement, his faithful security chief and deputy interior minister colonel Karpenkov has been rallying his network of journalists and experts to broadcast messages of support for the leader and preferred succession scenarios.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 30.05.2023

Belarus, Russia
Russia's Rosvgardia trains new elite units in Minsk

Belarus's powerful deputy interior minister and Commander of the Belarusian Internal Troops Nikolai Karpenkov launched a collaboration with the Russian National Guard in January which is now in full swing.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 21.02.2023

Belarus, Russia
Lukashenko takes care to keep Russophile strongman Karpenkov onside

The regime's creation of a commission supposedly to facilitate the return of political exiles to Belarus is intended to send a message both to Washington and to Belarus's siloviki. The measure is largely symbolic, since powerful deputy internal affairs minister Nikolay Karpenkov is opposed to any attempt to appease the country's dissidents.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 15.02.2023

Belarus
Combative opposition homes in on Lukashenko's private security firm Gardservis

As the risk of political unrest in Belarus grows and the war in Ukraine threatens to spill over its southern border, the Belorussian president is cranking up his own personal security, for which he relies on the small private company Gardservis.

Subscribers only Corporate Intelligence 16.09.2022

Belarus
Lukashenko fantasises about militarising the KGB

The Belarusian leader, continuing his tour of security structures to be reformed, intends to overhaul the intelligence agency that serves as the cornerstone of the regime.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 15.08.2022

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus, Russia
Belarus's KGB administers caution on intelligence cooperation with Russia

The Russian and Belarusian intelligence chiefs met in Moscow on 7 July for what was a routine meeting but not one without its share of tension. Minsk is striving to retain autonomy from its great neighbour to the east.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 11.07.2022

Belarus
Versatility-driven Minsk focuses on made-in-Belarus arms

The Belarusian government's pro-Russian narrative is starting to grate with its arms procurement projects, which are geared towards building autonomy and more intended to guard against aggression similar to Moscow's offensive in Ukraine than to fight NATO.

Subscribers only International Dealmaking 01.06.2022

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on May 16, 2022, during the meeting of heads of state of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

Spotlight | Belarus, Russia
How Russia is working to absorb Belarusian news networks into sovereign internet

While everyone's focus is on Ukraine, the information space in Belarus continues to quietly but steadily move towards a shared sovereign internet with Russia, one that is controlled by the latter's security and cut off from the rest of the world.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 09.05.2022

Belarus, Russia
Minsk opposition keeps up connections with Moscow

The Belarusian opposition faction led by Valery Tsepkalo, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's rival, is keeping in with Russian contacts who are ready and willing to back popular and political activism against Lukashenko.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 02.05.2022

Spotlight | Belarus
Minsk securocrats team up with dissidents to paint a picture of occupation

In the darker recesses of government and among politically active exiles, a new initiative is taking shape: that Belarus should be viewed as Russian-occupied territory.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 04.04.2022

Belarus, France
Alisia, the French operation that neutralised Lukashenko

At the centre of everyone's attention, Minsk was the subject of an intelligence operation led by Paris that helped dissuade Alexander Lukashenko from sending his troops to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Moscow is considering its next move, while its CIS allies are keeping a low profile.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 07.03.2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (L) during exercises of the Russian strategic deterrent forces in Moscow, 19 February 2022.

Belarus, Russia
Under pressure from Moscow, Lukashenko closes ranks around his new constitutional project

The Belarusan president is putting the finishing touches to the foundations of his new political and security policy by assuring himself of the support of popular veterans and his loyal base. Moscow, meanwhile, has sent former spymaster Boris Gryzlov to keep an eye on goings-on in Minsk.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 17.01.2022

President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, at Sochi on the 15th of February 2019.

Belarus
Lukashenko holds off on inevitable KGB reform

Faced with a resurgent internal crisis, the regime in Minsk has turned on its intelligence service, the KGB, the supposed deficiences of which have been singled out for criticism by Alexander Lukashenko. This has given rise to yet another reshuffle among senior KGB personnel but the inevitable radical reform the service needs has again been put off for another day.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 27.10.2021

Belarus
Uneasy Lukashenko presses ahead with his reform of the national security council

Although the stir created by the hijacking of a Ryanair aircraft on 23 May brought Belarus back into the public eye, Western condemnations have not stopped Alexander Lukashenko from proceeding with his plans to further strengthen his security services.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 24.06.2021

Belarus
Lukashenko strengthens national security council to keep grip on power

Alexander Lukashenko is trying to save his succession to ensure continuity in the event of a coup d'état by planning the transfer of his presidential powers to a renewed national security council.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 05.05.2021

Set up email notifications for these topics

Alexander Lukachenko
Alexander Volfovich
Belamova
Collective Security Treaty Organisation
FSB
Igor Sergeenko
Ivan Tertel
KDB
KGB
Nikolai Karpenkov
Telegram

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!

Insiders | China
Security, propaganda and the PLA: Xi Jinping forges new networks of influence

Insiders | Qatar
Barzan Holdings, Qatar's defence industry giant springing up out of the desert