Belarus overseas minister Vladimir Makei dies all of a sudden, state information company says | World Information

Belarus’s long-serving overseas minister has died “all of a sudden”, the nation’s state information company has mentioned.

Vladimir Makei, who had been in submit since 2012, was 64.

He attended a convention within the Armenian capital, Yerevan, earlier this week, and had been resulting from meet Russian overseas minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday.

“Overseas minister Vladimir Makei has handed away all of a sudden,” information company Belta reported, with out providing any additional particulars.

Earlier than presidential elections in 2020 led to massive anti-government protests in Belarus, Mr Makei had been amongst these attempting to enhance Belarus’s relations with the West.

He had additionally criticised Russia.

As soon as the protests started, nonetheless, he mentioned that they had been impressed by brokers of the West.

And after Russia invaded Ukraine, earlier this yr, he claimed the West had provoked the battle.

Just a few days earlier than it started, on 24 February, he promised there could be no assault on Ukraine from the territory of Belarus, earlier than being proved improper shortly afterwards.

Russian overseas ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mentioned her nation was “shocked” to listen to of Mr Makei’s dying.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, who retained energy regardless of the protests in 2020, has additionally expressed his condolences.

However exiled opposition chief, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, mentioned: “In 2020, Makei betrayed the Belarusian folks and supported tyranny.

“That is how the Belarusian folks will keep in mind him.”