Belarusian Foreign Minister Makei commits suicide

The Belarusian edition of Nasha Niva, citing sources, claims that the former head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir Makei, died as a result of suicide. The sudden death of the 64-year-old diplomat became known on November 26, 2022. For a relatively long time, officials and state media did not say anything about the cause of the official’s death. Later, the same “Nasha Niva” reported that the sources of the publication speak of a heart attack as the cause of death.

Now Nasha Niva claims that four sources “in the areas of public administration and medicine call suicide the cause of death.”

“Makey’s acquaintances say that he was painfully upset by the collapse of his course,” the publication says. “Often he felt unnecessary, and in some places simply out of place.”

It is alleged that Makei “knew that the administration of Alexander Lukashenko began to look at candidates to replace him” and that “he was recently denied personal attention.” In addition, sources said that “problems in the family” were superimposed on Makei’s worries about work. In particular, it is indicated that on the day of his death he arrived at his house alone, his wife and youngest son remained in another apartment, and later the eldest son discovered the body - when he could not contact his father for a long time.

Sources “do not see signs that this was a murder disguised as a suicide,” the publication concludes.

Shortly after the news of Makei’s death was received, versions of a possible murder began to circulate in the press of the post-Soviet space. In Russia, some observers expressed the opinion that Makei was objectionable in the West. At the same time, the Ukrainian media blamed Russia and suggested that Makei was a supporter of a peaceful settlement in the region and that his death could be “the last warning” to President Lukashenko.