Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei has died, state news agency Belta reported on Saturday. “Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei died suddenly,” reports the Belarusian agency.
The reasons for his death remain unknown at this time.
In office since 2012
Former member of the armed forces of the USSR and Belarus, the minister held the position since 2012.
He was due to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, next Monday, according to Reuters, in the midst of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Belarus being an ally of the latter.
Shortly after the start of the Russian invasion, Belarus allowed Russian soldiers to pass through its territory to enter Ukraine. In October, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Russian troops would arrive in his country to form part of a “regional grouping” of forces aimed at protecting its borders.
Alexander Lukashenko also called on Kyiv on Thursday to negotiate with Moscow at the risk of “total destruction”.
Source: BFM TV
