Everything has its own history. The history of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Security Department is a tapestry of days and nights woven from courage, vigilance, and professionalism, multiplied by a strong sense of duty. It is the everyday routine and holidays, victories and mistakes, the execution of orders, decrees, resolutions, the development of strategies, and the improvement of the service. The Kostyukivskoye Security Office has been keeping its own history since 1961. Since then, the relentless work of its staff began.

Within the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, the Security Department is one of the largest and best‑equipped police services, standing guard over state and private property, public order, and the safety of our citizens.

On the eve of the anniversary – the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the Kostyukivskoye Security Office – reporters from “GK” met with the head of the Security Office, Police Major Alexander BELY.

• Alexander Petrovich, please tell the readers what functions have been assigned to your unit?

– Our main task is the protection of objects of various forms of ownership and, of course, the maintenance of public order. Regarding legal entities, today we guard more than a hundred sites, including, this year, taking kindergartens under centralized security. We also focus on nearly two hundred apartments, dachas, and garages of private individuals.

• Regarding the protection of public order, what results have been achieved in this area?

– The police staff of our office is distinguished by valiant and vigilant service. Arrest units tirelessly patrol the city streets, preventing or eliminating offenses. Here serve self‑sacrificing and courageous people who have devoted themselves to the job. The guard personnel also deserve attention. They are people devoted wholeheartedly to their work, who keep watch at posts without rest. Our employees are engaged in combating petty thefts at enterprises.

– The safety of children in educational institutions is a priority. The resolution of the Council of Ministers dated June 19, 2026, No. 307 “On the Conduct of Security Activities” indeed introduced important amendments. One of the key ones is the legal codification of the right of internal affairs officials and guard personnel to conduct searches of minors’ belongings in educational institutions. Regarding searches: where does the line between personal freedom and public

It should be understood that a search is a preventive procedure that allows the timely detection of potentially dangerous items and prevents threats. Children often put potentially dangerous things in their backpacks “just because,” “as a souvenir,” or to show friends, without realizing the possible consequences. It is important to emphasize that the search is conducted strictly in the presence of legal guardians or a school staff member, respecting the child's rights and dignity, without humiliation or psychological pressure. Parents should explain to their children that if they accidentally or intentionally bring a prohibited item to school, it is better to inform adults. This is not punishment, but care for everyone's safety. At the same time, parents only need to inspect their child's backpack daily and regularly talk to children about safety, calmly explaining why dangerous items cannot be brought and what consequences it can lead to.

Security staff serve to ensure that not only at the facilities but also on our streets there is calm and order…

Exactly. To ensure reliable protection of facilities and proper public order, two police shifts are deployed daily on duty vehicles with service dogs, and their 24‑hour duty is organized. Police and guard units that serve at security posts contribute to the protection of the facilities. At particularly important sites – the district executive committee, a bank, a court – a service of posted police officers is organized.

As is known, in addition to the conscientious fulfillment of official duties, some of your employees and workers stand out for active participation in various events. Who are these people?

Indeed, there are creative personalities in our department – Natalia Vladimirovna Kozlova, Andrey Leonidovich Kapaev, athletes – Andrey Nikolayevich Kolomiychuk, Evgeny Nikolayevich Ovsyannikov, Alexey Ivanovich Bityutskiy, Evgeny Yurevich Drozd.

Alexander Petrovich, it's time to move on to the congratulatory part.

First of all, I would like to acknowledge our respected veterans: Vladimir Nikolaevich Vinnikov, Andrey Vasilyevich Yurashev, Sergey Viktorovich Serdyukov, Viktor Petrovich Parfenenko, Alexander Vladimirovich Sugak, Vitaly Kornievich Azarenko, Alexander Vladimirovich Aleksenko, Igor Ivanovich Kukharenko, Alexey Vasilyevich Yurchenko, Vasiliy Prokophovich Vasilevsky, as well as former heads of the Department of Security office Leonid Pavlovich Golovchenko, Sergey Vladimirovich Chukov, and Vladimir Alexandrovich Filimonenko! Thanks to their many years of work, spirit, wisdom, and high professionalism, a solid foundation of reliable security for our country has been created. They laid the best traditions of dedication, discipline, and responsibility, which today are successfully continued by new generations of employees. May their rich life experience and wisdom continue to serve as an example for all of us. A humble salute for their constructive work!

In this year of Belarusian women, I cannot fail to mention the female colleagues who perform their professional duties excellently.

Dear colleagues, I thank everyone for your selflessness, endurance, and complete dedication. May you have many more decades of fruitful service for the benefit of the state and the district ahead! I wish you good health, long and happy years of life, inner peace, warmth, and prosperity in your families.

And since our work is directly related to the protection of various forms of property, I thank the leaders of enterprises and institutions, as well as individual citizens who have entrusted us with the security of their property, for their cooperation. I hope that in the future you will continue to feel protected by our side.

• Al