Kommersant: Makei will be saving Lukashenka from sanctions

Experts connect the resignation of Siarhei Martynau with the failure of the Western vector of foreign policy of Belarus.

Aliaksandr Lukashenka dismissed Siarhei Martynau from office of the Foreign Ministry. Instead, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was headed by the Head of Administration Uladimir Makei. Experts connect the resignation of Siarhei Martynau with the failure of the Western vector of foreign policy: relations between Minsk and the EU is now worse than ever - the dialogue is interrupted, and the Europeans have already announced new sanctions against Belarus in October, reports Russian newspaper "Kommersant".

Belarusian expert Yuri Khaschevatsky said that Mr. Martynau was accused of failures that occurred due to harsh anti-Western attacks of the president.

According to coordinator of the civil campaign "European Belarus" Uladimir Kobets, personnel changes have domestic political aspect - they were initiated by the son of the ruler, Security Council Secretary Viktar Lukashenka. "The head of the administration - is a man who have access to Lukashenka. And Viktar Lukashenka, who controls all of the force structures, has long tried to put his man there. So he simply pushed Mackei to the post of foreign minister, who does not mean anything in Belarus now", - said the expert.

Uladimir Makei is a former officer of the intelligence services. According to Belarusian media, since 1980 he worked for 11 years in the General Intelligence Departmen of the USSR Ministry of Defense, has been promoted to colonel. After the collapse of the Soviet Union he switched to diplomatic service - worked in the Foreign Ministry, was a representative of Belarus to the Council of Europe, a counselor of the embassy of France. From 2000 to 2008 - the first assistant of the president, then - the head of his administration. Uladimir Makei is considered to be a master of backroom intrigues - in 2008 he played an important role in dealing with the group of "all-powerful" Security Council Secretary Viktar Sheiman.

A source at the Russian Foreign Ministry said that they found out about the upcoming reshuffle in Minsk last week. However, "there are no political reasons for the resignation of Martynau". "This is a purely personal matter, it is not connected with the work of the former minister", - added the Russian diplomat, refusing to disclose details.