The unsinkable former head of Rechytsa, sentenced to a long term, now leads a collective farm in Yel'sk district

The former chairman of the Rechytsa District Executive Committee, Vitaly Semyonovich Panchenko, has become the director of KSUP "Skaradnyanski" in Yel'sk district. This is according to information on the website of the local district executive committee, writes "Flagstock".

Notably, back in early 2026, he received a harsh sentence: the Central District Court of Gomel sentenced him to 7 years of imprisonment, a fine of 700 basic units, and a ban from holding managerial positions for 5 years.

A source associated with the enterprise told "Flagstock" that former Rechytsa chairman Panchenko was appointed director of KSUP in late July 2026.

Among the enterprise's employees, it is widely believed that the new head enjoys the patronage of Vladimir Dvornik — the former chairman of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee, and now the director of "Mozyrsalt".

Павялічыць

Dvornik's interest, "Flagstock" suggests, lies in appointing a familiar manager to the farm, which is planned to be transferred to the subordination of "Mozyrsalt" next year. The transfer of struggling farms to more prosperous enterprises is a common practice during Alexander Lukashenka's era.

Panchenko's serious problems with the law arose back in 2022. He was detained and held in a pre-trial detention center in a case concerning the falsification of livestock mortality statistics in Rechytsa district.

After this, he lost his high position as chairman of the district executive committee, but soon after his release from the pre-trial detention center, he received the position of deputy head of the ideology department of RUTT "Belorusneft". Many civil servants can only dream of such a position — minimal responsibility, decent salary.

Later, a new criminal case was initiated against him. According to "Flagstock", in 2025, Panchenko was again taken into custody and placed in Pre-trial Detention Center-3 in Gomel.

This was partly due to the former official's attempts to arrange a fictitious disability based on a chronic illness to soften the future sentence. For this, he used his connections, the publication claims.

In February 2026, Panchenko was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment. "Gomel Pravda", following the court's decision, cited excerpts from the judicial ruling:

"It was established that the chairman of the district executive committee (Flagstock's note: Vitaly Panchenko) bore personal responsibility for ensuring the effective operation of unprofitable agricultural organizations, increasing (failing to ensure the reduction of) unproductive livestock losses, including cattle mortality in agricultural organizations.

In violation of the written obligations he had assumed to comply with the restrictions established by the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Combating Corruption", from November 2012 to October 2022 [Flagstock's note: throughout his entire period as district head], he gave knowingly illegal instructions to heads and specialists of agricultural organizations and enterprises of the district, as well as to his deputy — the head of the department of agriculture and food, to distort data of state statistical reporting form 12-sg (livestock) with the aim of concealing livestock mortality."

Павялічыць

The publication also reported that Panchenko's actions led to the criminal prosecution of at least 20 employees.

Vitaly Semyonovich Panchenko was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment, a fine of 700 basic units, and a ban from holding managerial positions for five years.

Is it possible in Belarus, having a long prison term, a large fine, and a direct ban from holding managerial positions, to receive a full pardon? Yes, it is possible. By a decision of Alexander Lukashenka, an official can be released from punishment and restrictions associated with the sentence — and remain in the system.

The conditions are — to remain loyal to Lukashenka and start everything anew. In this case — from the position of director of an agricultural enterprise.

Notably, Panchenko first became the head of an agricultural organization 26 years ago — from 1998, he headed the Rechytsa collective farm "Red Banner".

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