Ministry of Defence (Belarus)
The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus (Russian: Министерство обороны Республики Беларусь; Belarusian language: Мiнiстэрства абароны Рэспублікі Беларусь) is the government organisation that is charged with the duties of raising and maintaining the Armed Forces of Belarus. The formation of the ministry began in March 1992, after the events of 1991 in which the Soviet Union had effectively dissolved. The ministry was formed on the basis of the former Headquarters of the Soviet Army's Belorussian Military District. Seven officers have served as Minister of Defence of Belarus: Petr Chaus, Pavel Kozlovskii, Anatoly Kostenko,[1] Leonid Maltsev (1995–96), Colonel General Alexander Chumakov, a Russian officer, (1996–2001),[2] Yuriy Zhadobin (2009–2014), Andrei Ravkov (2014-2020), and Viktor Khrenin (2020-present).
(Russian): Министерство обороны Республики Беларусь (Belarusian language): Мiнiстэрства абароны Рэспублікі Беларусь | |
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Formed | 20 March 1992 |
Preceding agency |
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Jurisdiction |
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Headquarters | Building 1 Kommunisticheskya Street Minsk, Belarus |
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Agency executives |
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Website | www |
The ministry is part of the Security Council of Belarus, interdepartmental meeting with a mandate to ensure the security of the state. The President, currently Alexander Lukashenko, appoints the Minister of Defense, who heads the ministry, as well as the heads of the armed services. These four appointees meet with the Secretary of the Security Council every two months. Security Council decisions are approved by a qualified majority of those present. Since 2014, the position of Minister of Defense has been filled by Lieutenant General Andrei Ravkov.
The budget of the defence ministry in May 2018 was €560 million.[3][4]
Structure
Military Authorities
The following departments are under the control of the defence ministry:[5]
- Central Support Elements
- Office of the Minister of Defense
- Deputy Ministers
- General Staff of the Armed Forces
- Main Operations Directorate
- Main Intelligence Directorate
- Main Organizational Mobilization Directorate
- Main Ideology Directorate
- Main Policy Directorate
- Department of Information-Analytics
- Department of Communications
- Department of Territorial Defense
- Department of Missile Forces and Artillery
- Department of Finance
- Logistics
- Other elements
- Sports Committee of the Armed Forces
- General Financial and Economic Department
- Legal Department
- Central Archives
Military Educational Institutions
- Military Academy of Belarus
- Minsk Suvorov Military School
- Border Guard Service Institute of Belarus
- Belarusian State University
- Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics
- Belarusian National Technical University
- Belarusian State Medical University
- Grodno State University
- Belarusian State University of Transport
- Belarusian State Academy of Aviation
Defence ministry building
In the late 1940s, a hill above Śvisłač in the Pukhavichy District was used to lay the foundation for the HQ of the Belarusian Military District. The project was entrusted to the architect Valentin Gusev, who risked not demolishing the ancient buildings surrounding it. It later became the defense ministry in 1992.[8]
List of Ministers of Defense
- Pyotr Chavus (1992)
- Pavel Kazlouski (1992-1994)
- Anatol Kastsenka (1994-1995)
- Leanid Maltsau (first term, 1996)
- Alyaksandr Chumakou (1996-2001)
- Leanid Maltsau (second term, 2001-2009)
- Yury Zhadobin (2009-2014)
- Andrei Raukou (2014-2020)
- Viktor Khrenin (2020–present)
Deputy Ministers of Defence
- Major General Yuri Merentsov (2004-2009)[9]
- Major General Mikhail Puzikov (2009-2015)[10]
- Major General Sergei Potapenko (Since 2016)
References
- Yury Kasyanov, 'Maltsev's Reform,' NVO, No. 17, May 31–June 6, 2002, p.8. See also re Chaus, "Petr Chaus: schitayu, chto nam ne nuzhno …"', Krasnaya Zvezda, 16 July 1992.
- Richard Woff, 'Minsk: making limited progress with reform,' Jane's Intelligence Review, June 1996, 248. However, Woff dates Chumakov's appointment to 'late 1995.'
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2018-05-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/belarus/budget.htm
- http://beloffice-g2n.zohosites.com/mobile/%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8B.html
- https://www.mil.by/ru/health/medicine/950/
- "Almanac: Belarus, Republic of • Military Medicine Worldwide". military-medicine.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- https://planetabelarus.by/sights/zdanie-ministerstva-oborony-belarusi/
- https://www.postkomsg.com/en/news/27/146503/
- http://www.svu.ru/biographies/biography/38.html