Sergei Kovalchuk. An archive photo courtesy of the Sports and Tourism Ministry
MINSK, 12 February (BelTA) – At the time the Normandy Four meeting took place in Minsk in February 2015, Belarusian Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk was an employee of the Belarus president’s security service. He revealed details of how the security of distinguished guests was ensured in the documentary “In search of peace” aired by the TV channel Belarus One on 11 February, BelTA has learned.
When asked whether the foreign guests had a rider and some special requirements for the Belarusian side, Sergei Kovalchuk said: “Initially when the negotiation process was in progress, both the Ukrainian side and the Russian side understandably presented certain requirements. We maintained a very forceful stance. We said we will host and will have to take every measure to organize the event. Although you have your own requirements for the organization of events, for ensuring the security of their presidents, you have to understand that today we have to put you in absolutely the same positions.”
“Orders were given to take care of every little detail as our head of state likes it. He examined all these facilities [in the Palace of Independence], all these rooms himself. The time for us to prepare was catastrophically small. And the best personnel of the presidential security service and other law enforcement bodies, who organized and enabled this event, were assigned to every stage,” Sergei Kovalchuk noted.
In his words, the level of responsibility of every officer, who was there, was beyond the extreme. And any one of them was ready to accomplish their assigned mission. “Everyone was instructed. Everything was smooth. Understanding what was going on at that moment, the level of tensions. One word, one incorrect and unprofessional action may have resulted in consequences. All the protected persons came with their own security details. For instance, France. Hollande had a woman in charge of the security service. A major-general,” said the former member of the Belarus president’s security service.
Asked about peculiarities of Putin’s nuclear suitcase, Sergei Kovalchuk explained: “Putin always comes with the suitcase. We always have a certain understanding with them [the Russian side]. They were within a walking distance outside the negotiation venue.”
The documentary revealed that the Belarus president’s security service operated truly smoothly. On the one hand, reporters enjoyed as much freedom as possible at the Palace of Independence. But access to the presidents was restricted when it was necessary.
For example, the Russian reporter Olga Skabeyeva was softly stopped by a Belarusian security officer, who did not let her reach Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko. “I absolutely don’t worry about that. Since I was doing my duty as a reporter and I simply had to understand why the negotiations were taking so long. By then Poroshenko had uttered a terrible phrase about Donbass: ‘Your kids will stay in basements’. This is why as soon as Petro Poroshenko appeared on the horizon, I simply tried to ask a question,” the TV host shared details of the past in the documentary.
Another Russian reporter – Pavel Zarubin – temporarily lost access to the area where the presidents could be. Probably for pestering Petro Poroshenko by loudly shouting questions from the crowd. “Why do your troops bomb civilians, Mister Poroshenko?!” he shouted.
The reporter noted that after that he spent some time with other reporters at the press center. But his ability to leave it was temporarily restricted. “It lasted for 2.5 hours. Later that night when the negotiations still continued I worked without hindrances. There were no restrictions,” Pavel Zarubin shared the details in the documentary. “After that story I repeatedly recalled these events. I recalled them literally the other day. Years later I convinced myself that I had done the right thing as a reporter.”
“In my opinion, I had acted correctly as a citizen, as a reporter. Because at that moment they had virtually started carpet bombing civilians. And Ukrainian authorities, which had proclaimed themselves a democracy under the protection of Western curators… What did they do with regard to reporters? They prevented reporters from asking any questions. We couldn’t access them at all anywhere. What kind of democracy is that? The meeting at the Palace of Independence in Minsk was the first occasion in many months when we had physical access to the president of Ukraine,” Pavel Zarubin shared his stance years later.
Follow us on:
