Lukashenko signed a decree to cede power to a collegiate body in case of assassination

The dictator of Belarus, Alexandr Lukashenko, on Sunday signed a decree to hand over, in an emergency, power to the Security Council, an advisory body made up of senior officials, the official BELTA news agency reported today.

The Belarusian leader is taking this step after accusing the United States of plotting a coup in the former Soviet republic.

The decree on “Protection of Sovereignty and Constitutional Order” signed by the President establishes the transfer of power to this body in four cases.

It is “The death of the head of state following an assassination attempt, the commission of an act of terrorism, external aggression or other violent actions”, according to BELTA.

If one of these assumptions occurs, “All state organs and their officials must act in accordance with the decisions of the Security Council, whose meetings are chaired by the Prime Minister.”

At the same time, a state of emergency or martial law would be immediately established on Belarusian territory and the Security Council would determine how to guarantee these measures.

The decisions of this body are binding on all and subject to “unconditional implementation”.

The Security Council can also decide on the calling of elections with the participation of the governors.

Lukashenko, in power since 1994, announced in April that the council would adopt decisions by “secret” ballot to avoid outside pressure.

This body includes, in addition to the Prime Minister, the Presidents of the two Chambers of Parliament, the Attorney General, the Ministers of Defense and the Interior, the Head of the KGB, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Head of State – army major or Lukashenko’s eldest son, Victor, as national security adviser.

The Belarusian dictator, who cracked down on massive anti-fraud protests in the 2020 presidential elections, denounced an alleged US-sponsored plot in mid-April that allegedly included his murder and that of his children.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) then claimed it had helped prevent a coup in Belarus.

Lukashenko maintains that the organizers of the coup were considering several options: assassinate him on the occasion of May 9, during the celebration of the victory over Nazi Germany; an attack on their courtship display; or the shooting of a sniper while the president was resting at the presidential dacha.

Nine people were charged in the criminal case initiated by the KGB under Article 357 of the Belarusian Criminal Code (conspiracy or other acts committed to seize state power).

(With information from EFE)

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