Security officials strengthen anti-corruption control and their role in redistribution of state resources

Security officials have enhanced their influence on the redistribution of state resources and their role in financial and economic sectors. In addition, some nomenclature representatives with business interests have attempted to use power bodies to redirect state resources amid budgetary cuts and revision of state support programmes. Perhaps, the top leadership has authorised the anti-corruption persecution against some state managers in order to renew staffing in the public sector.

The Financial Investigation Department said that it was completing investigation of several corruption crimes committed by state officials.

The Belarusian leadership fights corruption in annual or bi-annual cycles and usually, a peak in the revealed anti-corruption crimes is followed by a decline. That said, anti-corruption persecution peaks occur during crisis years, when the resource potential of the Belarusian state is the weakest.

The state has continued to revise the budgetary policy and state support programmes for the coming years, which has affected the interests of businesses close to the state. For instance, the president has adopted and is revising plans for new large-scale state investments, eg a programme aimed at restoring urban settlements and modernization projects for depressed regions with a pilot project in Orsha.

Most likely, the state’s large-scale investment plans are causing attempts to redistribute influence among the nomenclature and related business with the persecution of high-ranking officials. Corruption scandals and financial conflicts are beginning to affect retirees, former prominent officials from the presidential hierarchy, who apparently have lost their influence and contacts in the security block after leaving their posts.

After the final approval of state programmes and redistribution of state resources, the wave of anti-corruption persecution against public managers is likely to decline, especially if the economy resumes growth.