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bonyponyride t1_ixvwygx wrote

>The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs added in a statement that it was “deeply shocked” by the news of his death.

>“As head of the Foreign Ministry, he made a great contribution to the further strengthening of Russian-Belarusian relations,” it said.

Can any Belarusians here chime in with information about this guy? Was he as pro-Russian as Russia claims, or is it likely that he had an assisted accident?

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AtomicTurtie t1_ixwwtox wrote

I'll post this tweet by Carl Bildt, the former prime minister of Sweden - among other things, about Makei:

>It was years since I last saw Vladimir Makei, but then he was very clear on his determination to prevent his country coming under the control of the Kremlin, and not shying away from describing Moscow’s policies as imperialistic. RIP

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calibrono t1_ixx62v0 wrote

Speaking as a Belarusian, Makei was just another rat close to Lukashenko. Sure, some time ago he kinda sorta pushed for friendliness to EU, and at one time, some say, he even had presidential ambitions. However, after the protests in 2020 he showed his true self, pledging absolute obedience to Luka and playing the pro Kremlin game ever since.

On the other hand, Russia sure wants Belarusian army to help out with their genocide. Luka isn't budging it seems, so killing one of his top men like this? A good way to threaten him into submission.

Or he really just had a heart attack. At 64, he was past the usual life expectancy for males in Belarus.

Whatever it was, I hope hell is a scorching place for people like him, and I also hope he'll be joined by his pals soon enough.

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Ricardolindo3 t1_iy2682l wrote

>On the other hand, Russia sure wants Belarusian army to help out with their genocide. Luka isn't budging it seems, so killing one of his top men like this? A good way to threaten him into submission.

I had read that Lukashenko actually wanted to join the Russian invasion of Ukraine but that the Belarusian army refused. Is that true?

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calibrono t1_iy2y0ch wrote

That's a simplistic take. I assure you Luka doesn't want any part in any of this - not because he loves ukrainians or belarusians so much, but because it's bad for his business and his position. He's been ruling Belarus for almost 30 years now. So he's trying his best not to give Putin any extras over what is absolutely necessary.

And belarusian army certainly doesn't want to do anything like that as well, of course.

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Bn_scarpia t1_ixwhzgj wrote

I've been to Belarus twice, and everyone in the House of Lukashenko is pro-Russia. I doubt that this is a Russian defenestration poisoning hit job.

Likely something normal like heart issues or cirrhosis. Life expectancy in Belarus for men is only 69. Source

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SpaceShrimp t1_ixx1c0j wrote

That is the life expectancy at birth. Life expectancy at 64 is probably 80 years or so. Well, given that you haven't already died, because then it is 64.

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[deleted] t1_ixw1lq8 wrote

[deleted]

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callmesnake13 t1_ixw2ksm wrote

I love how this guy asks for Belorussians to tell us about the foreign minister and you, a non Belorussian, jump in with vague Redditor knowledge of Lukashenko.

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