Former Lukashenka Protocol Employee Darya Shmanai Becomes Head of a Mysterious Belarusian Organization in Moscow
Darya Shmanai, the Russian "daughter" of the mysterious Belarusian "First Foundation", has been appointed its head, noted "Zerkalo". Previously, she was a counselor-envoy at the Belarusian embassy in Russia, and before that, she was part of Alexander Lukashenka's protocol service. Within a year, this structure attracted "donations" totaling over 44 million rubles.
Alexander Lukashenka and Darya Shmanai, December 21, 2025. Photo: Getty Images
The "First Foundation", established on the initiative of Alexander Lukashenka, has a subsidiary organization in Russia called "Krynitsa". As "Zerkalo" learned from the data of audit-it.ru, since May 8 of this year, Darya Mikhailovna Shmanai has been appointed its director.
Before 2014, the woman worked at the National School of Beauty, later becoming the head of a special department of Lukashenka's Administration. In 2022, she was appointed as a counselor-envoy to the Belarusian embassy in Moscow.
Previously, the head of "Krynitsa" was Mikalai Leanidavich Latyshonak. This is a full namesake of the military officer and former head of Lukashenka's personal security department, and now an aide to the politician. He has faithfully served Lukashenka since 1995. Latyshonak is remembered, among other things, for coming out of the Palace of Independence to the people on August 30, 2020, during another Sunday march, when almost everyone else had left.
Unlike its Belarusian "mother" organization, the Russian foundation headed by Shmanai reported on its financial status for 2025.
According to the documents, it received "voluntary property contributions and donations" totaling 1.14 billion Russian rubles (about 15 million dollars).
Of these, about 85 thousand Belarusian rubles were spent on the organization's maintenance. The organization is registered in Moscow at the same address as the Belarusian embassy (Maroseyka Street, 17/6).
What is known about the organization
In October 2022, the "First Foundation" was established on the initiative of Alexander Lukashenka.
According to the politician, it was intended to replace charitable organizations closed due to repression. "We will be able to accumulate money from those who are not indifferent. And on my part, there is a guarantee that this money will not be stolen," he said in October 2023 – a year after the fund's creation. Belarusians were promised full transparency of the structure's work – allegedly, "everyone interested can see where their money is directed".
However, the structure either does not conduct any activities at all, or it carefully conceals them.
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