Syamyon Sharetski
Syamyon Georgiyevich Sharetski (, )  was a prominent Belarusian agricultural economist 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.

Politics 
August 21, 1999, when the 1995–1999 term of the presidency of Lukashenko ended, the deputies of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus which remained faithful of the 1994 Constitution of Belarus (but actually out of power), appointed Sharetsky 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.

References

1936 births
Living people
Members of the Supreme Council of Belarus
Presidents of Belarus
Foreign Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences