Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei has died, the overseas ministry said Saturday, providing scant detail.
On Facebook, the ministry wrote Saturday that Makei “died abruptly today.” It besides posted a representation of Makei connected Twitter, penning successful English that helium “has passed away,” without saying wherever oregon however helium died. He was 64.
The ministry did not instantly respond to a petition for comment. State media outlet Belta reported his death, citing a ministry spokesperson, but besides did not supply further details.
Makei had for years been successful the orbit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, becoming overseas curate successful 2012. Previously, Makei served arsenic an adjunct and aboriginal arsenic main of unit to Lukashenko, according to a biography connected the ministry’s website, which says helium was joined and had 3 children.
Lukashenko has expressed condolences to Makei’s family, Belta reported.
Makei was acceptable to conscionable this week successful Minsk, the superior of Belarus, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s overseas ministry said past week.
“We are shocked by the reports of the death” of Makei, Russian overseas ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said successful a station connected Telegram, adding that authoritative condolences from the ministry were forthcoming.
Throughout the warfare successful Ukraine, Belarus has remained a adjacent ally to the Kremlin, with Lukashenko hosting Russian troops and equipment, allowing Russia to usage his federation arsenic a launchpad for hundreds of airstrikes against Ukrainian targets and detaining hundreds of antiwar demonstrators.
In September, Makei said successful remarks astatine the United Nations General Assembly that “it is the corporate West that should afloat carnivore the work for the ongoing bloodshed successful Ukraine,” and that the West had “made this struggle inevitable.”