Belarus leader reshuffles lieutenants to tighten control

Belarus' authoritarian leer on Thursday reshuffled his top lieutenants in an apparent attempt to strengn his rule amid weeks of protests pushing for his resignation.

President Alexander Lukashenko promoted Valery Vakulchik, who led state security ncy that still goes under Soviet-era name of KGB, to be secretary of presidential Security Council. He replaced Vakulchik with Ivan Tertel, who previously served as he of State Control Committee.

Observers see appointments as an attempt by Lukashenko to tighten control.

“It's part of a clear trend toward strengning of police state,” said Alexander Klaskousky, an independent Minsk-based political analyst. “ repressions will escalate.”

reshuffle comes as Lukashenko is facing fourth week of protests against his re-election to a sixth term in office. Opponents say election was rigged.

66-year-old former state farm director, who has run ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for 26 years, has dismissed protesters as Western puppets and rejected negotiations with m.

During first few days of post-election protests, police detained nearly 7,000 people and beat hundreds, drawing international outr and causing demonstrations to swell. government has since switched tactics and tried to halt protests with threats, selective detention of protesters and prosecution of activists.

Interior Ministry said 24 people were detained Wednesday on charges of taking part in unsanctioned protests. y could receive fines or jail sentences of up to 15 days if convicted.

Targeting protest leers, Belarusian prosecutors have opened a criminal probe of Coordination Council that opposition activists set up after election to try to negotiate a transition of power. Last week, two of its members were given 10-day jail sentences on charges of staging unsanctioned protests, and y are w facing new charges that could extend ir time in jail.

As y try to stifle dissent, authorities also have revoked accreditation of many Belarusian journalists and deported some foreign journalists.

Two Moscow-based Associated Press journalists who were covering protests were deported to Russia on Saturday. In dition, AP’s Belarusian journalists were told by government that ir press credentials h been revoked.

Several Belarusian journalists were detained earlier this week and charged with taking part in unsanctioned protests.

Late Wednesday, police detained two popular TV anchors who resigned from state TV in solidarity with protesters.

United States and European Union have criticized Aug. 9 presidential election as neir free r fair and urged Belarusian authorities to eng in a dialogue with opposition, a demand Belarusian leer has dismissed.

Lukashenko has sought to secure support from Russia, which has a union treaty with Belarus envisaging close political, ecomic and military ties. Russian President Vlimir Putin said last week he stands rey to send police to Belarus at Lukashenko’s request if demonstrations turn violent, but ded that re was need for that yet.

On Thursday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin traveled to Belarusian capital to discuss conditions for Belarus to refinance a Russian loan.