Natalya Kochanova facts for kids

{{infobox officeholder | name = Natalia Kochanova | native_name = Наталля Качанава
Наталья Кочанова | image = Наталья Кочанова (02-12-2021) (cropped).jpg | caption = Kochanova in 2021 | office = Speaker of the Council of the Republic | term_start = 6 December 2019 | president = Alexander Lukashenko

| primeminister =

| predecessor = Mikhail Myasnikovich | office1 = Chief of Staff to President | term_start1 = 21 December 2016 | term_end1 = 5 December 2019 | president1 = Alexander Lukashenko | predecessor1 = Alexander Kosinets [be] | successor1 = Igor Sergeenko | birth_date = (1960-09-25) 25 September 1960 (age 64) | birth_place = Polotsk, Belarusian SSR, Soviet Union (now Belarus) | party = Belaya Rus (since 2023) | children = 2

| alma_mater =

Natalia Ivanovna Kochanova (born 25 September 1960) is a politician from Belarus. Her maiden name was Tolkachiova. Since December 2019, she has been the Speaker of the Council of the Republic of Belarus. This is a very important leadership role in the country's government.

Early Life and Education

Natalia Kochanova was born on 25 September 1960 in Polotsk, Belarus. Her father worked as a blacksmith, and her mother worked in a clothing factory. She has two brothers.

She studied at the Novopolotsk Polytechnic Institute and finished in 1982. Later, in 2006, she also graduated from the Academy of Public Administration. This academy is connected to the President of Belarus.

First Jobs

From 1982 to 1987, Kochanova worked at a water treatment facility in Polotsk. She operated remote controls there. After that, she moved into public service. She became the head of the housing department and a member of the city's Executive Committee until 2002.

Steps in Her Political Career

In November 2007, Natalia Kochanova became the mayor of Novopolotsk. This was her first major political role. Five years later, in 2012, she took on a new position. She became the Deputy Chairperson of a special committee in the National Assembly of Belarus. This committee focused on laws and how the government is built.

In 2014, President Alexander Lukashenko appointed Kochanova as Deputy Prime Minister. This was a big step up in her career.

Becoming Chief of Staff

On 21 December 2016, President Lukashenko appointed Kochanova as the Chief of Staff to the President of Belarus. She also became the head of the Presidential Administration of Belarus. At that time, President Lukashenko called her a "strong supporter of the state policy." She is known as one of his key advisors.

Leading the Council of the Republic

In December 2019, Kochanova moved to the Council of the Republic of Belarus. This is the upper house of the Belarusian parliament. She was elected as the Speaker of the Council on 6 December 2019. She received 59 out of 60 votes. This made her the first woman to hold this important position.

In January 2020, Kochanova met with the United Kingdom ambassador, Jacqueline Perkins. They discussed ways to make the relationship between Belarus and the UK stronger. In April 2020, President Lukashenko asked Kochanova to invite the World Health Organization (WHO) to Belarus. The WHO was asked to check how Belarus was handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Kochanova stated that there was no need for emergency measures and that the economy should continue as usual.

2020 Presidential Election and Public Events

Natalia Kochanova was the Chief of Staff for President Lukashenko's election campaign in August 2020. After the election, there were many public events and protests in Belarus. Over 7,000 people were arrested during these events in August 2020. Kochanova spoke on behalf of President Lukashenko about releasing 1,000 of those arrested. She said they were now "under the obligation not to participate in unauthorized activities." She also stated, "We don't need unrest. We don't need war."

On 15 August, many people protested outside the state television building. They wanted full news coverage of the events. When television staff joined them, Kochanova arrived but could not calm the crowd. The next day, state television reported on the protests for the first time.

Views on the Situation

On 2 October 2020, Kochanova spoke at the National Assembly. She said that the election was held in difficult times. She mentioned "unconcealed external pressure" and "unhealthy public situation" caused by "internal destructive forces." She believed people chose the President for "stability, peace, tranquility, and the policy pursued in the country."

She also said that "lies and misleading information about the country is being spread." She strongly criticized other countries like Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Ukraine for interfering in Belarus's affairs.

Later in October, the Council of Europe spoke out against any more violence in Belarus. Kochanova responded by saying that Western countries were getting "one-sided information." She said Belarus was "ready to discuss the situation" with other countries. However, she stressed that there must be "mutual respect" and "non-interference with internal affairs."

Meetings and Sanctions

In November 2020, Kochanova met with student protesters at Belarusian State University. She denied claims of vote rigging and mistreatment of those arrested. The students protested her comments. She said she was "saddened" by their behavior. While answering questions, Kochanova spoke about a theory that the protests were organized from outside the country.

On 18 November 2020, Kochanova met with local officials in Polotsk and Novopolotsk. In a recording that was later shared, she claimed that protests were organized from abroad. She also said that photos of people who were hurt by the police were fake. She supported removing students from universities for political reasons.

On 27 November 2020, Kochanova received a medal "For Strengthening Parliamentary Cooperation." This was from the Council of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.

Because of her role in the government, several countries have placed restrictions on Natalia Kochanova. These countries include the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United States, Japan, Ukraine, and Canada.

In 2021, a former university employee, Uladzimir Lobač, claimed that his departure from Polack State University was due to pressure from Natalia Kochanova and Igor Marzalyuk.

Personal Life

Natalia Kochanova is married and has two daughters.