Belarus foreign minister dies suddenly after speculation he’d been discussing secret peace plan

The foreign minister of Russia’s ally Belarus died suddenly today at the age of 64, it was announced in Minsk.

Vladimir Makei was seen as the single main channel of communication to the West in the harsh pro-Moscow regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

His sudden death came the day after he met the pope’s envoy, Ante Jozić, amid speculation that they were discussing a secret peace plan over the war in Ukraine.

Career spy Makei was foreign minister for ten years and was to receive Vladimir Putin’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in Minsk tomorrow and Monday.

Lavrov’s spokeswoman said Russia was “shocked” by his death.

No cause of death was given, but several sources speculated that his death could be suspicious.

Makei was described as ‘healthy’.

He was seen as keeping an eye on the Belarusian presidency in case Lukashenko quit – and he was a former chief of staff to the tyrant.

He had been trained in the Soviet GRU – the military intelligence service – and had a reputation as Lukashenko’s ‘grey cardinal’.

The pre-war Russian Telegram channel Mardan posted, “Strange death. Just in time. Yesterday he discussed a peace plan with the Pope’s envoy.’

Narrative channel said: ‘Makei was Lukashenko’s main communication channel with the West.

A career intelligence officer, Makei had close ties to Austrian intelligence and the Austrian elites. Makei initiated a liberal trend.

“He often carried out delicate orders from the Kremlin – and helped build special contacts between Moscow and the Austrians.

“At the same time, he was not a supporter of the Kremlin.”

Another channel Legitimniy stated: ‘He was the main secret lobbyist for Western interests in Minsk.

‘Is it a coincidence? Or did someone knock him out because he didn’t do what he promised?

“Or was he, on the contrary, suspected of ‘leaking information’?”

The channel continued, “Makei’s main dream was the [Belarus] presidency.’

He was seen as having links to exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Makei was seen as “a master of intrigue” who “moved and feared at the same time” Lukashenko.

He was a “most talented, cunning and dangerous politician.”

HVS channel said Makei was a politician ‘in whose natural death one can never believe’.

He was seen by some as pro-Westerners until the outbreak of anti-Lukashenko protests after rigged elections, after which he became a loyalist who opposed the West.

Others claimed that he maintained an independent foreign policy and did not give up contacts with the West.

Although Lukashenko is Putin’s closest international ally, the Kremlin remains concerned that Belarus has not fully signed its war in Ukraine – even though Moscow has stationed troops in Belarus.

There were also concerns that Lukashenko – despite being a pariah – was trying to broker a secret deal with the West in the event that Putin was impeached.

The Belarusian foreign ministry did not recognize the ‘people’s republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk, sparking anger in Moscow.

Last week, Makei attended the CSTO security session in Armenia along with Putin and other senior Russian figures.

Makei warned of threats from NATO.

“We are shocked by the reports of the death of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

“Official condolences will be published shortly.”