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Natalya Kochanova

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Natalya Ivaovna Kochanova
Кочанова Наталья Ивановна
Speaker of the Council of the Republic of Belarus
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 December 2019
PresidentAlexander Lukashenko
Personal details
Born (1960-09-25) September 25, 1960 (age 64)
Polotsk
NationalityBelarusian
Children2

Natalya Ivanovna Kochanova (born 25 September 1960) is a Belarusian politician who has been Speaker of the Council of the Republic of Belarus since December 2019.

Early life and education

Kochanova was born on 25 September 1960 in Polotsk.[1] Her father was a blacksmith and her mother worked in a garment factory. She has two brothers.[2] She grew up in a communal apartment and studied at the Novopolotsk Polytechnic Institute, graduating in 1982.[1][3][4] In 2006, she graduated from the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Belarus.[5]

Career

Kochanova worked as a remote control operator at Polotsk's water treatment facility from 1982 until 1987.[2][3][6] She was promoted to the public service and was head of the housing department and member of the city's Executive Committee until 2002.[2] In November 2007, she became mayor of Novopolotsk.[2][3][6]

In 2012, Kochanova became Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Commission Council of the National Assembly for legislation and state building.[2] In 2014, Kochanova was appointed Deputy Prime Minister by President Alexander Lukashenko.[3][6][4]

On 21 December 2016, Kochanova was appointed Chief of Staff to the President of Belarus and Head of the Presidential Administration of Belarus by Lukashenko,[7] who is known as Europe's "last dictator".[8] At the time Lukashenko called her an "ardent supporter of the state policy.[7] She is one of his key supporters and advisors.[9] Political scientist Dmitry Bolkunets has suggested that Kochanova could be seen by Lukashenko as a possible successor.[10] However, Lukashenko himself has previously said that a woman cannot be the President.[11]

In December 2019, Lukashenko sent Kochanova to the Council of the Republic under the presidential quota, replacing her as head of the Presidential Administration with former Deputy Chair of the KGB Igor Sergeenko.[12] Kochanova was elected speaker of the Council on 6 December 2019, receiving 59 of the 60 votes.[13][14] She is the first woman to hold the position.[1]

In January 2020, Kochanova met with United Kingdom Ambassador Jacqueline Perkins seeking to deepen ties between the two countries.[15] In April 2020, Kochanova was asked by Lukashenko to invite the World Health Organization to assess the performance of Belaru's healthcare system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] She said there was no need for emergency measures and the economy should keep working as usual.[17]

2020 Presidential election and aftermath

Main article: 2020 Belarusian protests

Kochanova was Chief of Staff for Lukashenko's election campaign in August 2020, who covers the bloody regime and repressions of Lukashenko's forces.[18] After over 7,000 people were arrested during August 2020 protests calling for Lukashenko's resignation after the disputed election, Kochanova spoke on Lukahsenko's behalf about the release of 1,000 of those arrested, saying they were now "under the obligation not to participate in unauthorized activities." She said, "We don't need unrest. We don't need war."[8][19][20][21] On 15 August, thousands of protestors outside the state television building demanded full coverage of the protests. After television staff joined them, Kochanova arrived, but was unable to pacify the crowd. The following day, state television reported on the protests for the first time.[22][23]

Opening the fourth session of the National Assembly on 2 October 2020, Kochanova said, "The election campaign was held in difficult conditions. We witnessed unconcealed external pressure on our country and the aggravation of an unhealthy public situation by internal destructive forces. People made their choice in support of the incumbent President, in favor of stability, peace, tranquility, and the policy pursued in the country." She also said, "Lies and misleading information about the country is being spread ... We, the members of the Council of the Republic, strongly condemn the gross interference of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine and other foreign countries in the internal affairs of Belarus."[24] Later in October, the Council of Europe issued a statement condemning any further use of violence in Belarus, including "disproportionate use of force by the authorities against protestors."[25] Kochanova issued a statement in response, saying the West receives "one-sided information" on the situation in Belarus from people who “do not represent the majority of citizens who supported the country’s course during the presidential election." She said Belarus was "ready to discuss the situation in the country with foreign partners, subject to mutual respect, objectivity, consideration of the parties’ interests and non-interference with internal affairs."[26]

After the German Bundestag adopted a resolution on 4 November 2020 rejecting the results of the presidential election as neither free nor fair, denying the legitimacy of Lukashenko and calling for a new vote,[27] Kochanova and Chair of the House of Representatives, Vladimir Andreichenko, issued a joint statement. They called the resolution "blatant interference" in Belarus' affairs, saying they were "utterly bewildered" by German support for open calls for "terrorist activities". The statement said, "By the Resolution the Bundestag undermines the progress achieved in relations between Belarus and Germany, and panders to the mercenary interests of individual politicians who are trying to earn political capital on the image of “fighters for democracy in Belarus” while ignoring the harsh repressive actions of law enforcement agencies in their own country."[28]

In November 2020, Kochanova held an unsuccessful meeting with student protesters at Belarusian State University. She denied vote rigging and torture of those detained, but the students protested her comments. She said, "I thought that we will come out of here and ... be friends. But I am very saddened by the fact that today the framework of human norms and morality is being shattered ... when an adult woman like me is standing in front of you, and you shout in her face, this is rude and unacceptable."[29]

On 27 November 2020, the Council of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly awarded Kochanova with its medal "For Strengthening Parliamentary Cooperation."[30]

Personal life

Kochanova is married with two daughters.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Кочанова Наталья Ивановна" (in Belarusian). Republic of Belarus.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Уроженец Витебской области вошел в руководство страны" (in Russian). Vitebskiy Kurier. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "People devoted to their state: New leadership of Belarus Presidential Administration appointed". CTB. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "The meeting with the administration and students of PSU with the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Belarus Natalia I. Kochanova". Polotsk State University. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Senatoren wählen Natalja Kotschanowa zur Vorsitzenden des Rates der Republik" (in German). Belta. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Ioffe, Grigory (7 January 2015). "Year-End Turbulence in Belarus". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Natalia Kochanova appointed Head of Belarus President Administration". Official Website of the Republic of Belarus. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b Bodner, Matthew; Mulligan, Matthew (15 August 2020). "Tens of thousands defy crackdown and years of authoritarianism to protest Belarus dictator". NBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  9. ^ Solopov, Maxim (28 August 2020). "Dictatorship is our brand". Meduza. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Ці будзе Наталля Качанава пераемніцай Лукашэнкі?" (in Belarusian). Novychas. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Лукашенко сказал, что женщина не может быть президентом Беларуси". The Village (in Belarusian). 30 May 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Адміністрацыю Лукашэнкі ўзначаліў генэрал-маёр КДБ" (in Belarusian). Radio Svaboda. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. ^ "New chairwoman of upper house of Belarusian parliament elected". Xinhua. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Speaker of Council of Republic of National Assembly of Republic of Belarus Elected". Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  15. ^ "BELARUS, UK SEEK TO DEEPEN TIES". Krupsky District Executive Committee. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Exclusive interview with Natalia Kochanova on details of her meeting with WHO mission". TVR. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Kochanova on Belarus' steps to fight coronavirus". Polymia. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Meeting with Natalya Kochanova and Viktor Sheiman". News Kitchen. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  19. ^ Turp-Balaz, Craig (14 August 2020). "Strikes could signal the end for Belarus dictator Lukashenko". Emerging Europe. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  20. ^ Ilyushina, Mary; Pleitgen, Freb (14 August 2020). "Belarusians accuse authorities of torture and humiliation during mass detentions". WRAL News. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Belarus authorities free detainees amid protesters' pressure". Tribune Chronicle. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  22. ^ Sierakowski, Slawomir (18 August 2020). "The cracks in Belarus's regime are multiplying". The Strategist. Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Belarus: Thousands protest outside state TV building". BBC. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Senator calls for preserving peace in Belarus". Belta. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Council of Europe leaders make joint statement on Belarus". Council of Europe. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  26. ^ ""Aggressive Minority" And "Foreign Interference". Kachanova Responds To Council Of Europe". Belarus Feed. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Bundestag Denies Lukashenko's Legitimacy, Adopts Resolution On Belarus". Belarus Feed. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Statement by the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalya Kochanova and the Chairperson of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko in connection with the Resolution of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany on the situation in Belarus dated 4 November 2020". House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  29. ^ Ioffe, Grigory (13 November 2020). "Lukashenka's Legacy and the Damage to Public Trust". Eurasia Daily Monitor. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  30. ^ "Kochanova honored with CIS IPA medal for strengthening parliamentary cooperation". Belta. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
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