Anatoly Lappo
Anatoly Lappo | |
|---|---|
Анатоль Лапо | |
 Lappo in 2019 | |
| Chairman of the State Border Committee | |
| In office 29 December 2016 – 30 May 2023 | |
| President | Alexander Lukashenko |
| Preceded by | Leonid Maltsev |
| Succeeded by | Konstantin Molostov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 May 1963 Kulakovka, Byalynichy district, Mogilev region, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Alma mater | Golitsyno Border Institute of the FSB of the Russian Federation FSB Border Academy |
| Awards | Order "For Service to the Motherland" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Soviet Union Belarus |
| Branch/service | Soviet Border Troops Border Guard Service of Belarus |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
Anatoly Petrovich Lappo (Russian: Анатолий Петрович Лаппо; born 24 May 1963) is a Belarusian military officer who served as chairman of the State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus from 2016 to 2023.
He oversaw the border during Belarus–European Union border crisis and was sanctioned by the USA and the EU.
Early life and education
Anatoly Lappo was born in the village of Kulakovo in the Mogilev region, Belarus, to a family of a teacher and a driver. When he was ten, his family moved to Mogilev.[1]
In 1986, he graduated from the Border Institute of the KGB of the Soviet Union and from the FSB Border Academy in 2001.[2]
Career
Anatoly Lappo started his service after graduation in the Transcaucasian Border District and participated in the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the Azerbaijan. He called that time one of the hardest in his life.[1]
In 1992, Lappo returned to Belarus to serve in the newly created Smorgon Border Group, becoming its commander in 2004.[2] In 2008, he was transferred to the operational department of the Border Service. He was later promoted to its deputy head and then to its first deputy head in 2014, before being appointed its chairman on 29 December 2016.[2]
Lappo obtained the rank of major general in 2010[1] and lieutenant general in 2020.[3]
Anatoly Lappo was in charge of Belarusian border during 2021 refugee crisis, and met with the UNHCR representative to discuss the issue.[4] In the same year, he said that that Ukraine was "training military" to "arrive here in Belarus".[5] In 2022, after Russia had already invaded Ukraine, he said that Poland had been acting "provocatively".[6]
He was dismissed on 30 May 2023,[7] and in August, Lappo was appointed Border representative at the CIS Executive Committee.[8]
Sanctions
Anatoly Lappo was sanctioned by the USA, the EU and Switzerland in 2021, and by Japan and Ukraine in 2022.[9]
Personal life
Lappo is married and has two daughters.[10]
In 2011, he won a swimming competition among border guards in his age group.[1]
Awards
- Second-degree order "For Service to the Motherland" (Belarus, 2023)[11]
References
- ^ a b c d "Пять фактов о новом главе Погранкомитета Анатолии Лаппо" [Five facts about the new head of the Border Committee, Anatoly Lappo]. Nasha Niva (in Russian). 3 January 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "Анатолий Лаппо назначен председателем Госпогранкомитета" [Anatoly Lappo was appointed chairman of the State Border Committee]. BelTA (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 May 2025.
- ^ "Лукашенко присвоил звания генерал-лейтенанта Лаппо, Тертелю и Хренину" [Lukashenko awarded the rank of lieutenant general to Lappo, Tertel, and Khrenin]. BelTA (in Russian). 3 November 2020. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022.
- ^ "UNHCR Deputy Director for Europe Angela Li Rosi visited Belarus, discussed solutions for refugees and migrants stranded at the border". unhcr.org. 27 November 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022.
- ^ Whitmore, Brian (29 September 2021). "Lukashenka vs. Ukraine". Atlantic Council. Archived from the original on 17 March 2025.
- ^ "Top Putin Ally Threatens 'Cruel' Attacks on New Country". Yahoo News. 7 October 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023.
- ^ "Лукашенко снял с должности главу Госпогранкомитета" [Lukashenko dismissed the head of the State Border Committee] (in Russian). Charter97. 30 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Анатолий Лаппо назначен представителем Совета командующих погранвойсками при Исполкоме СНГ" [Anatoly Lappo was appointed as the representative of the Council of Border Troops Commanders at the CIS Executive Committee]. Belarus Today (in Russian). 31 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Anatol Piatrovich Lapo". opensanctions.org. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025.
- ^ "Сморгонский вариант" [Smorgon variant]. Belarus Today (in Russian). 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017.
- ^ "Лукашенко наградил Тертеля, Кубракова и Лаппо за операцию по задержанию в Беларуси террориста украинских спецслужб" [Lukashenko awarded Tertel, Kubrakov, and Lappo for the operation to detain a Ukrainian special services terrorist in Belarus]. Belarus Today (in Russian). 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023.