In a statement from the Omani Foreign Ministry about today’s meeting between Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and the Belarusian delegation, the position of Viktar Lukashenka is described as “special representative of the president” or “special envoy of the president”. It is in this capacity that the long-time associate of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Viktar Sheiman, conducts his international meetings.
“His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq (may Allah preserve him) this morning received at Al Baraka Palace His Excellency President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Head of the Republic of Belarus. During the meeting, the sides reviewed areas of investment and economic partnership between the friendly countries and discussed ways to strengthen them in the interests of both parties and in support of the economic growth of Oman and Belarus,” the Omani Foreign Ministry said.
The statement then lists those who took part in the meeting, along with their positions.
“The meeting was attended by His Highness Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth; His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Said Al-Ofi, Head of the Special Office; His Excellency Abd al-Salam bin Mohammed al-Murshidi, Head of the Oman Investment Authority.
On the Belarusian side, the president’s sons were present — His Excellency Viktar Lukashenka, special representative of the president of the Republic of Belarus and head of the Olympic Committee, and Mikalai Lukashenka, as well as a number of other Belarusian officials,” the ministry reported.
It is worth noting that for Belarus the position of “special representative” or “special envoy” of the president is rather unusual. In Belarusian history, one can recall only the notorious Viktar Sheiman, who, after stepping down as Head of the Presidential Administration, became a special envoy or special representative of the president (various sources used different wording).
In June 2021, when accepting his resignation, Alyaksandr Lukashenka asked Sheiman not to go far so that he could “lend a shoulder where needed”. He promised at the time to offer Sheiman several job options and asked him meanwhile to continue dealing with Cuba, Venezuela and Africa. Later, Sheiman was referred to as a special representative.
It is known that as far back as February 2021 Viktar Lukashenka was relieved of his post as presidential aide for national security. On the same day he became head of the National Olympic Committee. No information was released about the appointment of the elder son of Alyaksandr Lukashenka to any other state position, although he was clearly continuing to oversee relations with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf and, possibly more recently, with Indonesia and Algeria.
