Belarus president sacks PM and top ministers

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Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the country's prime minister and other top ministers, the presidential press service said on Saturday, in the biggest government reshuffle since 2014.

The shake-up comes days after Lukashenko criticized government leaders for their ineffectiveness.

Lukashenko named Sergei Rumas, the head of the country's Development Bank, as new prime minister, the presidential press service said in a statement. Rumas replaces Andrei Kobyakov, who had served as Belarus' prime minister since 2014.

Sergei Rumas, named by Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko as new prime minister, is seen in Minsk, Belarus, August 18, 2018. /VCG Photo

"I won't name names, but in our government we had the following situation – one program would be announced and then another program would be carried out," Lukashenko said in comments released by his press office.

"I've never allowed this and I never will! What we have promised the people – with a government formed precisely with this program in mind – we must follow this program," he added.

Lukashenko also named four new deputy prime ministers, as well as new ministers of the economy, communications and industry, among other posts.

Over the summer a corruption scandal rocked the nation's health service. Authorities arrested dozens of top health officials, medics and drug company representatives on suspicion of siphoning off millions of dollars in state funding.

Lukashenko has ruled Belarus since 1994.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters