Paul Goble
Staunton, Nov. 26 – The sudden death of Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei at 64 very much plays into the hands of Vladimir Putin, Israel-based Russian commentator and opposition politician Leonid Nevzln says, because the Kremlin leader wants to “liquidate” Alyaksandr Lukashenka and gain full control of Belarus’ armed forces for use in Ukraine.
Makei’s death certainly weakens Lukashenka and thus plays into Putin’s hands, he continues, and thus it can’t be ruled out that Russia’s special services played a role in his exit from this life. After all, the commentator says, they are “no strangers” when it comes to organizing sudden deaths that help Moscow (kasparov.ru/material.php?id=638263E877DE7).
Even if they didn’t – and there is as yet no evidence to suggest otherwise -- Makei’s death will disorder Minsk for some time and that will make it easier for Putin to bring pressure to bear on his often recalcitrant ally.
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