MINSK, August 19. /TASS/. The Belarusian Health Ministry confirmed the death of a Brest citizen, who took part in protests.
"We regret to inform you that on August 19 a citizen of the Republic of Belarus Gennady Shutov died," the ministry said. On August 13, the man, who was in grave condition, was sent for treatment from the Brest regional hospital of emergency medical care to the Defense Ministry’s hospital.
Late on August 18, Shutov’s health condition sharply deteriorated and despite all efforts the doctors failed to save the patient’s life.
Earlier, the man’s relatives told tut.by portal that they had talked to the eyewitnesses and participants in the Brest protest, who told them that Shutov did not fight and was not involved in any conflict, but just walked along with other protesters. He received a shot in his head fired from a rooftop, they said. According to Shutov’s daughter, her father had a gunshot wound and a serious brain injury.
Belarus held the presidential election on August 9. According to the final data of the Central Election Commission, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won 80.10% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who was considered as his key rival, garnered 10.12% of the vote. She did not recognize the outcome of the polls.
After the results of exit polls were announced late on August 9, mass protests flared up in downtown Minsk and other cities, which spiraled into clashes with police. The protests continued for several days and according to the Interior Ministry, over 6,000 people were detained while dozens of police officers and protesters were injured.