/ / News
02.08.2012

Lukashenko: Too much theory in Prosecutor General's Office work

MINSK, 2 August (BelTA) – The Prosecutor General's Office should put more efforts into fighting corruption instead of indulging themselves in theories and lawmaking research, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the government session held on 2 August to discuss performance improvement of prosecution bodies.

The President said the Prosecutor General's Office practiced compartmentalized approaches while discarding interests and interaction with other agencies.

Alexander Lukashenko remarked that in recent years the number of grave crimes has shrunk thanks to the coordinating role of the Prosecutor General's Office. He also pointed out the special contribution of the prosecution to ensuring the reign of law, better public security and stability.

However, the President stated, the Prosecutor General's Office cannot remain static. “I’ve instructed the entire power-wielding system and the law enforcement system to improve their performance and even think about reforms in some areas. The same applies to the Prosecutor General's Office, too.” The Prosecutor General's Office should be developed and should grow together with the society in order to be able to promptly and adequately respond to modern challenges. “Unfortunately, we cannot normally, promptly, and adequately respond to these modern challenges every time. Prosecutors do not have an integral vision of their role in the law enforcement system that is being reformed,” said Alexander Lukashenko. The President believes that practical work is often substituted with multiple formal meetings, discussions and paper shuffling. “I cannot see why time is spent doing it if the activity does not produce real benefits. We need results,” the head of state made it clear.

He believes many proposals of the Prosecutor General’s Office had been declarative and debatable, had lacked thoroughness, particularly those concerning financial costs, scientific and human resources support. “With personnel diverted to non-core functions, control in priority areas has weakened,” underlined Alexander Lukashenko.

“Rights and interests of economic entities are violated in virtually all branches of the economy. Bureaucratic tyranny, restricted competition and unjustified preferences have yet to be eradicated. All in all, the state of justice in the economy is far from the ideal one. Your work in cooperation with the government is extremely important here,” the head of state told prosecutors.

Alexander Lukashenko reminded that when he appointed Alexander Konyuk Prosecutor General, he gave the instruction to raise the effectiveness of prosecution agencies. The President of Belarus drew attention to key problems in the operation of the Prosecutor General’s Office that need to be resolved. The President urged to step up efforts to fight corruption, organize effective interaction of the Prosecutor General’s Office with other authorized agencies, and address the causes that interfere with effective operation.

Alexander Lukashenko also pointed out problems concerning personnel recruitment and distribution. “It is alarming that in recent years the process of personnel renewal has become permanent,” explained the President. He gave instructions to build an effective human resources system. He said that the creation of the Investigation Committee could not be cited as the reason for brain drain. “Don’t make it look like a tragedy. Contrariwise, look on the bright side. The Investigation Committee now employs professionals. Investigation quality will only get better because of it since investigation is the peak of the entire law enforcement system”. Alexander Lukashenko believes that efforts should be put into replenishing ranks of the Prosecutor General’s Office with skilled workers.

Alexander Lukashenko said he expected participants of the session to work out an objective and reasonable opinion about the state of investigation. Participants of the session are expected to discuss whether key goals of the investigation system reform are being achieved, namely the protection of citizens’ rights and procedural independence of investigators.