KIEV: A missing Belarusian dissident was on Tuesday found hanged in a park in Ukraine, with police opening a murder probe and supporters accusing the regime of Alexander Lukashenko of killing the activist who helped his compatriots flee repression.
Vitaly Shishov, 26, headed the Belarusian House in Ukraine, a non-governmental organisation, and was involved in everything from helping fellow compatriots settle in Ukraine to staging anti-regime protests.
Belarus strongman Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, has been cracking down on any form of dissent since mass protests erupted after last year’s elections, deemed unfair by the West.
Many Belarusians have fled, often to neighbouring Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania.
“Belarusian citizen Vitaly Shishov, who had gone missing in Kiev yesterday, was today found hanged in one of the Kiev parks, not far from where he lived,” the police said in a statement.
It said they had opened a murder probe. Igor Klymenko, head of the national police, told reporters police were pursuing two main leads: suicide and murder disguised as a suicide. He said the activist had scratches on his nose and body which were consistent with a fall.
An AFP journalist saw several police cars and dozens of police at the scene, some carrying black bags.
The activist went jogging in Kiev on Monday morning but did not return and could not be reached on his mobile phone.
The Belarusian House in Ukraine accused the Lukashenko regime of being behind the murder of Shishov.
“There is no doubt that this is an operation planned by Chekists to liquidate a Belarusian who presented a true danger to the regime,” the NGO said in a statement, referring to security service agents.
Shishov moved to pro-Western Ukraine in the autumn of 2020, after joining anti-government protests in Belarus, and helped establish the Belarusian House in Ukraine. The NGO said that it had repeatedly received warnings about possible “provocations, including kidnapping and liquidation” and that Shishov had been followed.
Belarusian authorities have used force to put down historic demonstrations against Lukashenko’s rule and have been trying to snuff out remaining dissent, jailing university students and shutting down independent media. — AFP
Vitaly Shishov, 26, headed the Belarusian House in Ukraine, a non-governmental organisation, and was involved in everything from helping fellow compatriots settle in Ukraine to staging anti-regime protests
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