The “gray cardinal” of Belarusian politics, who oversaw the “Wagner affair,” is fading into the shadows
In Belarus, the resignation of the most influential person from Alexander Lukashenko’s entourage, Presidential Administrator Viktor Sheiman, is being widely but anonymously discussed.
“One of the closest and long-time associates of Alexander Lukashenko has resigned. Viktor Sheiman - among other things, according to some sources, directly supervised the famous operation with the “Wagnerites” in the summer of 2020. As Lukashenko once said to his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin, “when you came to power, you had all the troops and elites, but I only had only Sheiman with a pistol,” political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky explains the importance of the event.
In the official chronicle, the case was presented as leaving at his own request due to family circumstances.
“You have written your resignation letter many times. I didn't agree with this. But I understand that someday the time comes, you have had enough in life, starting from your youth. In Afghanistan, he fought his way as a lieutenant. He rose to general. The highest position in Belarus is yours: we don’t have any more major generals. The Last of the Mohicans. I understand that family, children, mother and many, many more questions. I know your situation,” Lukashenko told Sheiman.
At the same time, the president made it clear that he was not completely releasing his comrade-in-arms from government duties.
“I agree with your new page in life, but I would very much ask you not to go far and not to move away from the state at all and to lend your shoulder where it is needed, as you have always done. Over time, I will offer you several job options. For now, I would very much like to ask you to take over, as always, Cuba, Venezuela, and the “tails” in Africa, until you hand them over to the government. I have a practice: where reliable, close people were needed, I had to send you or my eldest son Victor. He was more involved in the Middle East region, and you were more focused on Africa. I ask you to keep this for now,” Lukashenko said.
He also emphasized that he would need Sheiman if the situation escalates (despite the victorious reports about the suppression of protests, the Belarusian president allows for the possibility of such an escalation).
“And don’t go far. You see what the situation is around Belarus. God forbid, you and I will have to pick up a machine gun and defend the country. I wouldn't want to. You have a lot of experience, I have less, but the situation is not easy. I am honestly grateful to you for everything that has been done,” Lukashenko concluded.
Sheiman is a unique person in Belarusian politics. He is the only one in the country who holds the rank of Colonel General. He is one of those who promoted Lukashenko to power, he has been with him from the very first days. The President owes him a lot.
Sheiman's name is associated with many dark pages in the biography of the Belarusian president. In particular, with the assassination attempt on Lukashenko near Liozno in 1994 (the opposition claims that it was staged). His name is mentioned by Old Man’s enemies in connection with the disappearance of politicians in the late 90s. He is one of Lukashenko's most trusted people and one of the two most informed people in Belarus after the head of state himself. It is possible that he is the first in terms of information possession. The President set the task, and the executor knows the details of its implementation.
“It is difficult to agree with those who say that Sheiman’s resignation is due to the fact that he is trying to escape. No one will simply allow such a person to escape. It is not connected with his disgrace either. Again, due to awareness.
Sheiman has always been close to Lukashenko. Already in the first weeks of Alexander Grigorievich’s reign, he headed a security council specially created for him and headed it for quite a long time. He was also acting. Minister of Internal Affairs, without a higher legal education, prosecutor general, head of administration and manager of presidential affairs.
It is worth noting that business management in Belarus is a little different from what a similar body is in other countries. Usually this is a purely technical structure that ensures the functioning of the presidential apparatus, the maintenance of residences, administrative buildings, and garages. That is, the presidential supply manager.
In Belarus, the presidential administration is a business empire that owns a huge amount of prestigious real estate and rents it out, has its own enterprises, and is engaged in foreign trade, moreover, with such important states as Venezuela and African states, in particular Zimbabwe. Despite the resignation, the president left Sheiman in control of these foreign economic levers. This means that he definitely did not lose confidence.
Most likely, Sheiman’s resignation is simply his departure into the shadows. Apparently his work as head of business management is no longer a top priority. A more important direction was found. Sheiman will be involved in other matters in the field of foreign trade. One of the conspiracy theories boils down to the fact that if the situation in Belarus goes in an unfavorable direction, then Sheiman may take up the issue of evacuating the president’s family.
In any case, we will hear this name again and again. Sheiman’s role in Belarusian politics after his resignation is unlikely to decrease much, although it may be less public,” explains Belarusian observer Artem Agafonov.
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