Thread by @HannaLiubakova

I am rubbing my eyes at the number of conspiracy theories caused by FM Uladzimir Makei’s death. Of course, any sudden death, especially of an important official in a dictatorship provokes interest. The independent outlet @nashaniva wrote about heart attack, citing its own sources

In this particular case, I'd believe they indeed have their own sources. Though we can't exclude anything, for now, no other evidence exists.

I wanted to share other points that I’ve read since yesterday. First, about his alleged pro-Western views. It was the result of balancing

between Russia and the West. His influence between 2015 and 2019 was naturally higher. There was even some progress. But back then, Makei was not acting against Lukashenka - the latter was balancing himself. In 2020, the "multi-vector" politics vanished. So the question is:

Where was Makei with all his influence and pro-Western views? Since 2020, he was busy threatening to destroy civil society, justifying the Russian war, and crying over sanctions. His MFA became virtually redundant. Why do you need it when you don't have a foreign policy?

Relations with such an important ally as Russia are in the domain of Lukashenka, not the MFA. Now there are jokes that the new minister is now even needed because the regime is so isolated anyway. Many expected Makei to resign in 2020 but he showed his loyalty till the very end.

I was in New York in September and I heard him speaking at #UNGA. He said nothing that would indicate a change in rhetoric. Ah, no, change happens: Lukashenka one day says that Ukraine will be destroyed; next, he says he always opted for peace and wants to help Europe in winter.

Perhaps Makei was more nuanced & attuned to his interlocutors in the West. I am not saying he was not effective. But he defended and strengthened the regime. When people were tortured and killed in 2020, he said: "We did not allow the West to realize the colour revolution".