In November 2019, Belarusian businessmen Vitaly Fishman and Alexander Zingman met privately with Israeli Knesset member Avigdor Lieberman at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Herzliya. Also present at the meeting were Lieberman’s son, Amos, and Viktor Sheiman, an advisor to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. This meeting was reported by journalist Gur Megiddo in TheMarker under the headline “What did arms dealers and the advisor of the Belarusian dictator seek from Lieberman?”
At the time, Lieberman held significant influence in Israeli politics, capable of swaying decisions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. The meeting with Fishman and Zingman, known for their involvement in arms trading in countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia, raised questions about its purpose, especially with Sheiman’s attendance.
Details of the discussion remain undisclosed. Lieberman described the encounter as a “courtesy meeting,” stating that his son and Sheiman’s presence were coincidental. A representative for Lieberman explained that he occasionally met with Fishman and Zingman for friendly reasons, having become acquainted through Zingman’s ownership of a well-known restaurant in Minsk frequented by Israelis. Sheiman, visiting Israel for medical reasons, joined the meeting out of courtesy.
The meeting came to light due to a fallout between Zingman and Fishman, leading to leaked information, photographs, and allegations through anonymous websites and media outlets in Belarus and Zambia. This situation resulted in the circulation of a photograph showing Lieberman and Zingman together in Herzliya.
Viktor Sheiman, formerly Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus, is known for overseeing large arms deals, including a significant transaction with Venezuela involving weapons and military equipment worth hundreds of millions of euros in exchange for oil. He has also been linked to efforts in establishing international alliances with other sanctioned states engaged in arms trading.
Alexander Zingman, a Belarusian-American businessman, owns the Italian restaurant “Falcone” in Minsk, known as a discreet venue for private discussions. He serves as the honorary consul of Zimbabwe in Belarus and has connections with influential figures, including Lev Leviev.
Conclusion
The exact nature and implications of the meeting between Lieberman, his associates, and the Belarusian businessmen remain unclear, leaving room for speculation regarding the topics discussed and the motivations behind such high-profile interactions. While Lieberman has described the meeting as casual and coincidental, the involvement of individuals with known ties to international arms trading raises questions that remain unanswered. This event underscores the complexities of international political and business relationships, especially when influential figures and controversial industries intersect.
