Regime Doppelgängers: Lukashenko’s Appointees in the Regions

Lukashenka is focusing on strengthening the political and police functions of his vertical power structure ahead of the presidential campaign. To this end, he is enhancing the system for monitoring the loyalty of officials and the population. Specifically, the dictator is appointing two authorized representatives for each region and Minsk in preparation for the 2025 elections.

Lukashenka is rotating regional appointees ahead of the presidential elections. All appointees hold high state positions and come from the top pool of leaders. In regions with the highest protest potential, the dictator is sending security officials. For example, the State Secretary of the Security Council, Valfovich, will oversee the attitudes of officials in the Hrodna region, while the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kubrakou, will monitor Minsk.

The dictator distrusts regional authorities and sends additional overseers to monitor the sentiments among local elites. Notably, Lukashenka is appointing two authorized representatives per region, unlike previous years when only one high-ranking nomenklatura representative was assigned to each region.

It is important to note that Belarus has a vertical power structure. Regional leaders are appointed personally by Lukashenka, and district and city leaders are appointed after approval from his administration. Additionally, district and city leadership usually comes from the same region and is rotated horizontally among different districts of the region.

At the same time, the quality of vertical communication within the state apparatus and feedback from the public is declining. Lukashenka only reacted to the consequences of a hurricane in the Homel region several days after it caused widespread public outcry. The politician traditionally shifted responsibility to the local vertical and distanced himself from the officials.

Furthermore, Lukashenka expressed dissatisfaction with the grievances directed at the state by those affected by the hurricane. The politician continues to “stick to his line,” despite the consequences of personal communication failures with the electorate during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential elections.

Thus, the Belarusian leadership continues large-scale preparations for the presidential campaign by strengthening the monolithic nature and loyalty of the vertical power structure.