Lukashenko replaces chief of general staff of Belarusian Armed Forces // Lukashenko appoints deputy defense minister Vladimir Bely as chief of general staff

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has appointed Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir White as chief of the general staff of the republic’s armed forces, BelTA news agency reports. Head of the General Staff, Major General Pavel Muraveyko moved to work in the presidential administration, where he will take the post of deputy head.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that he himself proposed the candidacy of Mr. Muraveyko for a new post, which came as a surprise to the leadership of the presidential administration, the Security Council and the military. “An alternative, competitive perspective must exist at the highest level. I need that, the president said.

The President also appointed Dmitry Basko as Chairman of the State Standard, Oleg Dyachenko as Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Nationalities, and Alexander Yakovchitsa as Minister of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade.

In August 2024, Major General Vladimir Bely was appointed head of the main combat training department of the Armed Forces of Belarus, and in July 2026 he became deputy head of the military department.