Belarus' top diplomat buried as his death raises suspicions - Yahoo News

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarus connected Tuesday held a authorities ceremonial for its overseas curate who died abruptly astatine property 64, triggering speculation astir imaginable foul play successful his decease aft helium leaned toward Western countries.

Belarusian authorities didn't springiness the origin of Vladimir Makei's decease connected Saturday. He wasn't known to endure from immoderate chronic illness.

Some media and observers alleged without offering grounds that Makei could person been poisoned by information agencies of Belarus' main state Russia, which has warily watched Makei's efforts to negociate a rapprochement with the West.

Makei has been a apical subordinate of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for much than 2 decades. Many analysts saw his diplomatic maneuvering arsenic portion of Lukashenko's efforts to amended ties with the West, which were frozen aft a brutal crackdown connected protests that followed his 2020 re-election that the absorption and the West deemed rigged.

Belarus' relations with the West were further strained aft the state hosted Russian troops that invaded Ukraine connected Feb. 24.

Lukashenko attended Makei’s funeral, touching his coffin but making nary nationalist statement.

While Makei has remained steadfastly loyal to Lukashenko amid the crackdown connected the opposition, helium has been seen arsenic much wide compared to the Belarusian person and different members of his entourage.

A time earlier his death, Makei met successful Minsk with the Vatican's envoy, Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Ante Jozic, successful what immoderate saw arsenic portion of Belarus' maneuvering to mend ties with the West.

Next month, helium was scheduled to question to Poland to be a gathering of the Organization for Security and Cooperation successful Europe, a trans-Atlantic information grouping.

“Makei was holding unfastened the model of accidental for establishing a dialog with the West, giving Lukashenko immoderate country for maneuver and bargaining with the Kremlin,” said Artyom Shraibman, an autarkic governmental analyst. “Makei has earned a estimation arsenic the main pro-Western dependable successful the Belarusian government, truthful it's not astonishing that his decease has fueled galore conspiracy theories.”