MINSK, 30 December (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has presented state awards to law enforcement and military officers. The ceremony took place as the head of state visited the Minsk riot police on 30 December, BelTA has learned.
“In the last days of the outgoing year, the president, as I say, is very popular. But with all the schedule pressure, I could not but come to see you - true patriots of our country, people of duty and honor,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the ceremony.
The president thanked the law enforcement and the military for their courage and resilience, loyalty to the oath and the people. “These are not just words. For each of you it is a guiding principle that determines your deeds and actions,” he stressed.
Among the awardees were representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Defense Ministry, the State Security Committee, the State Border Committee, and the Presidential Security Service.
The list of awardees included Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs - Head of the Criminal Police Gennady Kazakevich, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs - Commander of Internal Troops Nikolai Karpenkov, commander of the special rapid response unit of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Aleksandr Bykov, commander of the riot police of the Minsk City police department Dmitry Balaba, the commander of the riot police of the Grodno regional police department Viktor Kravtsevich, the commander of the riot police of the Brest regional police department Maksim Mikhovich.
The awards were also presented to Commander of the 103rd Independent Guards Airborne Brigade Aleksei Yelfimov, Commander of the 38th Independent Guards Airborne Brigade Aleksandr Ilyukevich, Vommander of the 5th Independent Special Operations Brigade Dmitry Kuchuk, and head of the independent operations service of the border service Igor Kryuchkov.
After the awards ceremony, Aleksandr Lukashenko visited the special police unit, where he got familiar with various law enforcement gear, means and the living quarters of the rapid response teams.
Commander of the riot police of the Minsk City police department Dmitry Balaba updated the president on the improvement of the basic infrastructure of the unit and the construction of new facilities, including a sport center with a shooting gallery.
The head of state also visited the unit's room of military glory. Here he was told about the history of the unit. The president left an inscription in the book of honorary guests.
The first special police force in Belarus - Minsk riot police - was formed in November 1988. Later, similar units were set up in all regional centers of the country.
The main tasks of the Minsk riot police are to provide law-enforcement support to special operations to detain persons who have committed or are suspected of committing grave and especially grave crimes, to maintain security during public events, emergency situations of criminal, natural and man-made nature, suppress mass violations of public order and riots. The riot police may also be used in counter-terrorist operations, emergency response to hostage-taking incidents, hijacking, and seizure of buildings.
