Makei died a few hours after the information provocation
Perhaps the most pro-Western and one of the most influential members of the Belarusian establishment has died in Minsk . Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei died just a few months shy of his 65th birthday, the retirement age for Belarusian officials. Makei is a long-serving politician. His tenure in high government positions is second only to that of Lukashenko himself. From 2000 to 2008, Makei served as an aide to the Belarusian president, then became his chief of staff, and since August 20, 2012, has been responsible for foreign policy. Perhaps no one in the country has held a longer tenure than Makei, not only as foreign minister, but also as a minister.
Makei is called the architect of the Belarusian multi-vector system. It was under him that this policy reached its apogee, and even after the virtual bankruptcy of this policy in August 2020, he, having adjusted his rhetoric, remained at the helm of the Foreign Ministry, ensuring formal and informal contacts with the West.
Makei's life is closely connected to Austria. A career intelligence officer during the Soviet era, he found himself at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that country immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This strange biographical fact did not prevent him from making a meteoric career, first in the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then in Lukashenko's inner circle. But even after reaching the very top of the Belarusian diplomatic hierarchy, Makei never lost his connection to Austria. His son from his first marriage, Vitaly, served for a long time as secretary of the Belarusian embassy in Vienna.
Makei's death came as a major surprise. The minister had been publicly unaware of any serious health issues, and he remained highly active until his final hours. Just yesterday, he met with Vatican Nuncio Ante Jozic, and a meeting with Lavrov was scheduled for Monday. Such a sudden death for such an important minister was bound to excite conspiracy theorists. Ukrainian and Belarusian media immediately began to put forward their own theories. They mentioned Novichok, Petrov and Bashirov, and much more.
Fuel was added to the fire by a conspiracy theory published the day before by the American think tank Robert Lansing Institute for Global Threats and Democracies Studies. In their anonymous publication, the Americans made unsubstantiated claims of the Kremlin's plans to eliminate Lukashenko and force the Belarusian army to engage in military action against Ukraine . They named former CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas as Lukashenko's possible "successor," and this alone speaks volumes about the quality of the analysis—Zas, a Pole, can hardly be considered a pro-Russian figure. The text would have gone unnoticed if not for the allegations that Makei's emissaries were promoting a narrative of personal entrapment for Lukashenko by the Kremlin, convincing Western interlocutors of the need to rescue "Batka" from Putin . A few hours after this appeared on opposition information dumps, Makei died.
According to information not yet officially confirmed, Makei "burned out at work" and suffered a heart attack. But even if this is confirmed, conspiracy theorists won't be satisfied. The theory that the architect of Belarus's multi-vector policy was poisoned by "Kremlin agents" is too convenient for those who despise Belarus and the Union State.
Makei is dead. Will multi-vectorism ever die? It's unlikely. The principle of " a gentle calf sucks two mothers " has become too ingrained in the Belarusian establishment, and even the events of the last two years haven't taught it enough. But there will be changes in Belarusian foreign policy— Lukashenko simply doesn't have a multi-vector cunning figure comparable to Makei.
Two people are currently being mentioned as potential successors to Makei . The first is Andrei Savinykh , former ambassador to Turkey and current chairman of the parliamentary commission on international affairs . The second is Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Ambrazevich.
If Savinykh becomes minister, he will probably try to continue Makei's line. In turn, Ambrazevich is largely a pro-Russian figure. However, the final word in personnel matters remains with Lukashenko, and he may surprise.
English version :: Read in English Makei died several hours after the information provocation