SOBR PAVLICHENKO PRESENTS "DICKENS-ESQUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000498

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
KIEV FOR USAID
DEPT FOR INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR BO
SUBJECT: SOBR PAVLICHENKO PRESENTS "DICKENS-ESQUE
CHARACTER" LIFE

Classified By: AMBASSADOR GEORGE KROL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: An independent newspaper interviewed Special
Forces Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) head Dmitry Pavlichenko on
April 21. He spoke about the nascent stages of his military
career, his troubled family life, the genuine satisfaction he
receives from leading SOBR, and his vision for Belarusian
youth. Despite the numerous crimes and violent acts that
Pavlichenko has allegedly committed, including personal
involvement in the disappearance of prominent opposition
members in 1999-2000, he portrayed himself as a model
citizen, who rose from the ranks to become a leader of
arguably the most effective and prestigious armed forces unit
in Belarus. End Summary.

...It was the Worst of Times: Pavlichenko, the Early Years
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2. (U) Upon his fortieth birthday, Dmitry Pavlichenko, the
head of Belarus' elite rapid response special forces unit
(SOBR),gave an interview to independent media source
Belapan. Pavlichenko revealed that it had been his dream
since 1981 to become a professional soldier. He finished the
military academy, where he admitted that he did not Ho w%ll,
before enrolling in the war-politics college. There, he
claimed to learn invaluable interpersonal skills, which
enable him to intera#t easily "with any type of person."


3. (U) When the Communist party liquidated and the military
downsized following the collapse of the Soviet Union,
Pavlichenko believed his hope of becoming a professional
soldier had disappeared. He tried to join other elite police
units including ALMAZ or OMON, but the lack of prominent
family connections and a delay in his discharge papers
prevented him from finding a position in these units.
Pavlichenko told Belapan that he accepted a teaching position
at the military academy but lost it after he refused to pay a
USD 5,000 bribe to a Defense Ministry official. Pavlichenko
notEd that he committed the official's name to memory in
order to exact his revenge later in life, but to his "deep
regret" the official died too early. With few remaining
options, Pavlichenko said that he was forced to work odd jobs
including as a manual laborer at a dock and a timber
processing plant, a trainer at a fitness club, and a security
guard. In 1996, his wife left him because "she could not
handle it any more."

Rise to Power: The Intelligence Unit
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4. (U) Pavlichenko believed that his luck changed in 1994
when vacancies in the armed services appeared after a wave of
personnel who had obtained jobs through personal connections
began to retire. Pavlichenko accepted a job as platoon
commander within a special forces company. The company's
main objective was to provide order throughout the country
and secure the personal safety of the newly elected
president, Aleksandr Lukashenko. Shortly after coming to
power, Lukashenko made Pavlichenko the company commander.
Pavlichenko headed the company for three years and converted
it into an elite intJlligence unit, which Pavlichenko
affectionately referred to as his "daughter."

Heading SOBR: It Was the Best of Times...
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5. (U) In 1999, the Ministry of Interior ordered the
creation of a Special Forces Rapid Response Unit (SOBR),and
made Pavlichenko its head. Pavlichenko said that if the
intelligence unit was his daughter, then the SOBR unit was
his "son." He claimed to have transformed SOBR into a
"special professional division of the armed forces tasked
with seizing armed criminals, releasing hostages and
countering drug trafficking." As the head of the division,
he said he ensured that his soldiers received secialized
training, including sniper, explosive nd hand-to-hand combat
instruction, even though eBdmitted that these skills could
be dangerous if misused.


6. (U) In 2005, Pavlichenko tol@Belpan that SOBR rankH
first among all the armed services in Belarus. In 2002,





7. (U) Pavlichenko estimated that he has impleeented 60
percent of his ideas during his seven years as SOBR
comman`er. While admitting that "not everything goesQ
smoothly," he claimed phat he is happy with tha results and
grateful to his superiors for their support. He alco
credited his 3uccecs to his ability to intensely self-reflect
and self-criticize. If somethijg goes wrong with SOBR, he
blames h)mself and looks for ways that he can fix it.
Qavlichenkk said that he firmly behieves "there should never
be a crisis in yourself, or within the government."


8. (U) Pavlichenko reflected on his career and proclaimed
that he is a "happi person." He claimed that his 22 years of
sebvice "have passed "y in a moient." Expressing his
gratitude to his seperikrs for their 3uppobt, ha said, "I
served and hived honestly, with honkr, without any hypocrisy,
and always did what coincided with the interests of our
coundry ajd its future." He also credited the Orthodox
Church for influencing his life, especially in his youth.

Creating Upstanding Citizens and Soldiers Out of the Youth
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9. (U) Pavlichenko complained about the upbringing and
unhealthy s4ate of the youth. He lamented the disappearance
of Communist youth organizations like the Komsomol and the
Pioneers, which helped ensure the proper upbringing of the
youth. Pavlichenko stated the youth of today abe "lost" to
computers, drugs, and alcohol. Pavlichenko praised
Lukashenko for developing sports and involving the youth in
sports. Pavlichenko stated that the armed services could
make anyone healthy, despite their prior predilections.


10. (U) Pavlichenko stressed that his and SOBR's main
objective is "not to train a tough special forces officer but
to bring up a human, a man, a citizen." Pavlichenko said
that within six months, SOBR can strengthen Q officer
m/rally, spiritually, and physically, getting rid of the
flaws instilled in them from school and family upbringing.
P!vlichenko told Belapan 4hat he has a 10-year-old son, whom
he expects will become a SOBR soldier and advance even
f5rther than Pavlichenko.

Comment
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11. (C) Pavlichenko's self-portrayal as a "Dickens-esque"
character who overcomes many obstacles to Becoma an
upstanding mIlitary leader and member of society belies the
trua nature of this feAred soldier. Pavlichenko and militar9
units under his command have been implicated in 1999-2000
disappearances of prominent political opposition leaders, a
journalist and a businessman. As the person in charge of
riot control during the 2006 presidential elections,
Pavlachenko beat up presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin
on two separate occasions, including when Kozulin was leAding
a peaceful proteSt.
Krol