Lukashenka's "Wallet" Zingman Detained In Congo

He may have been in charge of supplying arms to Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The African media of Daily Maverick reports on the arrest of Aliaksandr Zingman, a businessman and alleged arms dealer with close ties to Lukashenka, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to the publication, Zingman was arrested by the Congolese police in Lubumbashi after a meeting with former President Joseph Kabila. Zingman had previously been mentioned in the media in connection with the arms deals in Zambia and Zimbabwe, which he denied.

A source close to the administration of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, has confirmed Zingman's arrest. He said that after meeting with Kabila, Zingman flew from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi, where he was questioned by the police about his business in the DRC. The source says he could not explain the reason for being in the DRC.

Zingman has dual U.S. and Belarusian citizenship. According to the Congolese source, the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe were putting pressure to release him. However, the Congolese official said they would "keep him for now."

Another DRC source says Zingman has offered it to sell weapons to the former president, whose relationship with his successor is considered strained. The source said there is no evidence that Kabila invited him to a meeting or agreed to any arms deals.

Zingman had been photographed on many occasions with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was on Zingman's private jet, and who is Zimbabwe's honorary consul in Belarus.

We remind that the Zimbabwean line is supervised in Belarus by Siarhei Sheiman. He is a friend of businessman Aliaksandr Zingman. The businessman is also known for the fact that his family runs luxury Falcone restaurant in Minsk. Zingman's office is located in the building belonging to Lukashenka's Administration.