Yuriy Zaharenko Former Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, colonel, member of the UCP party. Date of Birth: 01.01.1952 Country: Belarus

1. Biography of Yuri Zakharenko
2. Political Involvement and Dismissal
3. Downgrade and Dismissal from the Ministry of Internal Affairs
4. Disappearance

Biography of Yuri Zakharenko

Yuri Zakharenko was a former Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, a colonel, and a member of the OGP party. He completed his education at the Volgograd Higher School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1977 and the Academy of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1987. He served his compulsory military service in the Baltic Fleet. Zakharenko worked as an investigator in Svetlogorsk and Gomel, as well as the head of the investigative department and deputy head of the internal affairs department of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee (1977-1991). He then served as the deputy head of the Interregional Department for Combating Organized Crime of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs (1991-1992), the head of the Investigation Department, and later the Investigation Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus (1992-1994). From July 28, 1994, to October 16, 1995, Zakharenko held the position of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

Political Involvement and Dismissal

Yuri Zakharenko participated in the last congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). He was part of Alexander Lukashenko's team during the Presidential elections in 1994. On July 28, 1994, he was appointed as the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus by Lukashenko's Decree No. 11. On August 5, 1994, he was awarded the special rank of Major General of the Internal Service by Lukashenko's Decree No. 22. However, on October 16, 1995, Zakharenko was dismissed from his position as the Minister of Internal Affairs by Lukashenko's Decree No. 424.

Downgrade and Dismissal from the Ministry of Internal Affairs

On April 16, 1996, Zakharenko was downgraded to the rank of police colonel and dismissed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs due to severe financial violations and failures in his work. In February 1998, he became a member of the National Executive Committee formed by the opposition and served as the Chairman of the Security Committee. He was also a member of the National Committee of the OGP.

Disappearance

Yuri Zakharenko went missing on May 7, 1999. One version suggests that he was abducted and killed.