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Παρασκευή, 29 Μαρτίου, 2024

Vitaly Shishov: Missing Belarusian activist found dead in Kiev – police investigating ‘all possibilities including murder disguised as suicide’ |

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Ukrainian police have launched a murder case after a Belarusian activist who was reported missing was found dead in a park in Kiev.

Vitaly Shishov led Kiev-based non-profit organisation Belarusian House (BDU) that helps Belarusians fleeing persecution.

He was reported missing by his partner on Monday after not returning home from a run.

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Mr Shishov was reported missing by his partner on Monday. Pic: Belarusian House in Ukraine

Police have launched a criminal case for suspected murder but said in a statement they will be investigating all possibilities, including murder disguised as suicide.

Mr Shishov felt he was under constant surveillance since leaving Belarus last year after taking part in anti-government protests, his BDU colleagues said in a statement.

He had been warned about possible threats, including being kidnapped or killed, but treated such warnings “stoically and with humour”.

Many Belarusians have fled the country after dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s government launched a violent crackdown, with many leaving for Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania in particular to escape persecution.

Belarusian authorities view anti-government protesters as criminals or violent revolutionaries backed by the West and say the actions of law enforcement agencies are adequate and necessary.

Belarusian journalist Taduesz Gizcan said in a tweet that police traced Mr Shishov’s phone during the search for him “to no avail” and that his friends said he has been followed recently.

BDU helps Belarusians find accommodation, jobs and legal advice, its website says.

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Protests at the disputed elections were widespread in Minsk last year. Pic: Tut.By via Reuters

The organisation said in a statement that Mr Shishov had left his home at 9am on Monday and was supposed to have returned an hour later.

In a separate statement, BDU said he “was under surveillance” and the facts were notified to the police.

“Also, we were repeatedly warned by both local sources and our people in the Republic of Belarus about all kinds of provocations, including kidnapping and liquidation,” it added.

“There is no doubt that this is an operation planned by the Chekists to eliminate a truly dangerous regime in Belarus. We will continue to seek the truth in the death of Vitaly!”

Poland’s deputy foreign minister Marcin Przydacz spoke to Sky News about protecting Belarusians, saying Poland has given those fleeing an opportunity to live in the country to be “safe and secure”.

But he said they are still somewhat “in danger” because they left their motherland for political reasons.

“What we are we’ve been doing for the last 30 years in Poland is to secure those people and to protect them, to give them at least a minimum of guarantees that there will not be touched by the intelligence or secret services of Belarus or other countries.

“But, you know, any country in the European Union, any of our NATO allies are basically in danger.

“We’ve been living in very unstable times, but the Polish government is doing its best to guarantee to those people to live in a safe and secure circumstances.”

Who was Vitaly Shishov?

Vitaly Shishov was the head of the non-profit organisation Belarus House (BDU), based in Kiev, Ukraine., which helps Belarusians flee persecution.

Mr Shishov was forced to move to Ukraine in autumn 2020 after going to the Gomel protests in August and further active opposition to the usurpers of power in Belarus, the organisation said.

BDU said he “stood at the origins of the creation of the Belarusian House” and “undertook absolutely all areas of activity: helping relocators, holding actions against the Lukashenka regime, appealing to government agencies to promote bills that help our compatriots, forming a diaspora in Ukraine.”

The news of Mr Shishov’s death comes a day after Belarusian sprinter Krystina Tsimanouskaya was granted a humanitarian visa from Poland after refusing to board a Minsk-bound flight from Tokyo.

The 24-year-old said she was seized by officials from her own country on Sunday after she publicly complained about the national coaches and sought police protection in fear her life was in danger.

Her husband, Arseniy Zdanevich, who is also an athlete, left Belarus on Sunday night for Kiev.

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Belarus sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya has received a humanitarian visa from Poland

He told Sky News: “I didn’t think it would get this serious. I made the decision to leave without thinking twice.”

Mr Zdanevich said he is sure he will join his wife wherever she ends up.

“We never had any connections, never supported the opposition. We’re just normal sports people, we’re just devoted to sports and we’re not interested in the opposition movement,” he added.

Poland’s deputy foreign minister Mr Przydacz said Ms Tsimanouskaya is “welcome” to stay in Poland, where there are “all possibilities for her to pursue her sporting career”.

He added: “She was waiting for her husband to join her in Warsaw. So they will decide whether they want to stay in Poland or continue any other travel.”

Image:
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Minsk, Belarus, to protest against the disputed August presidential elections results

Mr Lukashenko has vowed to continue what he called a “mopping-up operation” against civil society activists whom he has denounced as “bandits and foreign agents”.

His government faced months of protests after he won a sixth term in office last August, a vote that the opposition and the West believe was rigged.

In response to the demonstrations, he launched a violent crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police.

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