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Minister Makei in September 2022
Photo: Eduardo Munoz / REUTERS
Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei has died at the age of 64.
The state news agency Belta reported a "sudden death" on Saturday, without giving any further details.
Nothing was known about diseases.
Makei had been Foreign Minister of the authoritarian country for ten years and was one of the confidants of long-time ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
Before becoming a minister, he was head of the presidential administration.
At times, Makei was also traded as a possible successor to Lukashenko.
Belarus (formerly Belarus), the closest ally of its neighbor Russia, has been sanctioned by Western states for human rights violations and the repression of opposition figures.
The country supports Russia in its war against the common neighbor Ukraine, but does not take part in the invasion itself.
There were first expressions of condolence from Russia.
"We are shocked by the reports of the death of the Foreign Minister of Belarus," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Lukashenko has been in power in the former Soviet republic for more than a quarter of a century.
late/dpa/Reuters