Ukraine police investigating death of Belarus activist found hanged in Kyiv park

Vitaly Shishov, an exiled Belarusian activist who was found hanged in a park in Kyiv in what police say could be a murder, was an outspoken critic of the government in Belarus and staged rallies against it in Ukraine’s capital. After leaving Belarus last autumn during huge anti-government protests that he took part in, the 26-year-old set up and led a Kyiv-based organization that helped Belarusians fleeing a sprawling crackdown on dissent. Shishov was a fierce critic of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko whose declared win at last year’s elections sparked mass protests. Shishov described him in one post as a “bloodthirsty monster“ and a “dictator.“