“Vitaly Shishov, the head of a Kiev-based organization helping Belarusians flee abroad, was found dead on Tuesday, a day after he went missing, according to Ukraine’s National Police. Shishov, the head of Belarusian House in Ukraine (BDU), ‘was found hanged today in one of Kiev’s parks, not far from his place of residence,’ said police in a statement. ‘Vitaly’s mobile phone and personal belongings were removed from the scene.’ Police have launched a criminal case into the suspected ‘premeditated murder’ and will investigate all possibilities, including the possibility that it was ‘murder disguised as suicide,’ said the statement” CNN reports.

“Police added they would question witnesses and analyze footage from security cameras, and asked those who knew Shishov to come forward with any relevant information on the last few weeks of his life and possible threats he faced. Police said earlier on Monday that Shishov’s partner had reported him missing after he went for a run and did not return. Belarus has been in political and social turmoil since last year, when a disputed election led to mass protests, then a violent crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko that has been condemned by the international community. The discovery of Shishov’s body comes as Belarus faces increasing international scrutiny, after a Belarusian Olympic sprinter alleged that she was forcibly removed from the Tokyo Games and told to return home against her will, where she fears arrest.”