Syamyon Sharetski

Syamyon Georgiyevich Sharetski (Сямён Георгіевіч Шарэцкi, Семён Георгиевич Шарецкий; born 23 September 1936) is a Belarusian former agricultural scientist and politician. He was the last acting Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus.

Early life and career
Sharetski was born in 1936 and began his academic journey at the Belarusian Agricultural Academy, where he pursued studies in agricultural economics. After completing his education, he dedicated his career to the development and organization of agricultural production in Belarus. In 1970, he became involved in the political landscape and joined the Central Committee of the Communist Party, where he enrolled in the Higher Party School. He successfully completed his studies at the school and earned a degree. His commitment and expertise in agricultural economics earned him the position of senior lecturer at the school from 1970 to 1976.

During his tenure at the Higher Party School, he also assumed the role of head of the Department of Economics and Organization of Agricultural Production.

In 1959, he transitioned from academia to practical farming by becoming the chairman of the Zvezda collective farm. His dedication and exemplary leadership earned him the position of deputy chairman of the collective farm, which he held from 1976 to 1984.

In 1984, assumed a new position as the chairman of the Red Banner collective farm in the Volozhinsky district of the Minsk region. During his tenure, he focused on modernizing the farm and implementing advanced agricultural practices.

After leaving his position as chairman of the Red Banner collective farm in 1993, he transitioned to a new role as an advisor to the Prime Minister of Belarus.

Political career
During the leadup to the 1996 Belarusian referendum Sharetski emerged as among the leaders of the opposition, which viewed President Alexander Lukashenko, the main backer of the referendum, as centralising authority in his own hands. Along with the Supreme Court, Sharetski led the Supreme Council in opposing Lukashenko's efforts to overhaul the constitution. Sharetski ultimately accepted the proposed referendum following a diplomatic intervention by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin.

On 21 August 1999, when the 1995–1999 ended, deputies of the Supreme Council who remained faithful of the 1994 Constitution of Belarus (but actually out of power) appointed Sharetski acting President of the Republic of Belarus.

Exile
From 1999-2001 he lived in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was treated as a representative of the legitimate power of Belarus. Since 2001 he lives in the US, where he was given a status of political refugee.