An Important Signal From Lukashenko
- 9.07.2026, 7:44
What does Nadezhda Kotkovets' return to action tell us?
On July 8, the Belarusian government carried out another round of personnel changes. Lukashenko’s parting remarks on this occasion, once again, give pause to consider the depth of the bench among the country’s top officials, writes “Solidarnast”.
For example, for the Mogilev Region, Nadezhda Kotkovets, who effectively left government offices nearly ten years ago.
— Nadezhda Nikolaevna, I’ve known you for a long time. You’re an active person. There’s probably no one at this table with more experience than you. Everything will depend on whether you continue to be such an active person. As you can see, I didn’t let you get too comfortable sitting around. You’ve had a little rest, and now it’s time to move forward,” Lukashenko said, welcoming the official, whom he has known personally since his time managing the “Gorodets” state farm.
In his view, Kotkovets is very familiar with the Mogilev Region, which makes the choice in her favor a logical one. At the same time, the question remains: what was wrong with the previous assistant—Bobruisk native Sergei Nalyvaiko, who had served in high-ranking positions in the Mogilev region for 15 years?
Lukashenko expects Yuri Valevaty, who was appointed inspector for the Gomel Region, to transform the region into something resembling the Grodno Region. This is because Valevaty had previously served as deputy chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee.
What’s wrong with the ruler’s wish? It’s not just that one official in the field doesn’t make a difference. Grodno Region itself hasn’t been doing particularly well lately. There’s livestock mortality and a shortage of personnel, as the region’s head Yuri Karaev has admitted.
Local officials are trying to salvage the situation in the public sector in a straightforward way: by saddling stronger enterprises with unprofitable organizations.
The eloquent example of Volkovysk’s “Bellakta”—which slipped into the red after the Grodno Canning Plant was merged with it—shows how this ends.
But apparently, things are so bad in the Gomel region that Lukashenko would be happy with even a pale imitation of the Grodno region.
And the parting words from the anti-corruption fighter with more than 30 years of experience to the newly appointed inspector for Minsk Dmitry Reutsky were particularly candid:
— Your appointment is intended to ensure that you do not allow, as the saying goes, one hand to wash the other. Officials must handle their affairs properly. You must take a principled approach.
We’ll probably leave Lukashenko’s call to “not let the Bobruisk District slip” under its new leader without comment.