Translated material
One of Lukashenko’s closest associates, Viktor Sheiman, resigned. Lukashenko asked him “not to go far”
Alexander Lukashenko accepted the report of Viktor Sheiman on his resignation from the post of the head of affairs of the President of Belarus. This was reported on the website of the Belarusian President.
You wrote your resignation letter many times. I did not agree with this. But I understand that once the time comes, you have had enough in life. I honestly thank you for everything you've done. <...> I understand that the family, and children, and many, many more questions. Therefore, I agree with your new page in life, I will say this. But I would very much like to ask you not to go far (and not to leave the state at all) and put your shoulder where it will be needed. <…> You see the situation around Belarus. God forbid you and I still take the gun in our hands and defend the country.
Sheiman became the manager of affairs of the President of Belarus in 2013. Formally, he will leave his post after Lukashenka signs the corresponding decree.
In a video posted by the Pul Pervogo telegram channel linked to the press service of the Belarusian president, Lukashenka promised to offer Sheiman “ several job options” in the summer of 2021.
The President noted that Viktor Sheiman has extensive life experience and has come a long way in his career. From a young lieutenant who went through Afghanistan, he rose to a colonel general. This is the highest military rank in Belarus, and today Viktor Sheiman is the only one who wears these general shoulder straps, being in the service of the state.
- Viktor Sheiman is one of the closest associates of Alexander Lukashenko. Since 1994, when Lukashenka became president of Belarus, Sheiman has held a number of high positions, including the positions of secretary of the Security Council, prosecutor general, head of the presidential administration.
- Sheiman's name remained on the sanctions lists even after the main packages of US and EU sanctions against Belarus were lifted in the 2010s. He has been associated with death squads, whose members are accused of killing political opponents of Lukashenka in the late 1990s and early 2000s.