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 -------------- -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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... -------------- ¶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 -------------- ) -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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