President denies involvement in anti-gov protestor

The president of Belarus has denied any involvement in the death of an anti-government protestor, who was found hanged in Ukraine last week

Vitaly Shishov played a key role in helping Belarusians flee their country following the President’s post-election crackdown on critics.

Shishov’s body was found a day after he failed to return from a jog. Police have opened a murder inquiry.

The President says Vitaly Shishov was “simply a nobody” when pressed by reporters about the circumstances surrounding his death.

It comes as the UK and the US are tightening their sanctions on Belarus, which has had a major impact on the local economy.

The potash and petroleum industries have been hit the hardest, as well as financial services and the transport sector.

When questioned about these latest British sanctions, the President said “you can go choke on your sanctions… you are American lapdogs!”

Following his disputed election into Presidency a year ago, there were weeks of mass protests in the country.

Police detained thousands of anti-government protestors – with the opposition saying more than 600 political prisoners are still in jail.

In February 2021, Shishov took part in a “freedom marathon” in Kyiv covering a distance of 2,334 meters.