Death of Belarus protester sparks unrest and threat of more EU sanctions

FILE PHOTO: People gather to mourn the death of anti-government protester Roman Bondarenko who they say was beaten by Belarusian security forces in Minsk, Belarus November 12, 2020. BelaPAN via REUTERS

KYIV (Reuters) - Thousands of people took to the streets of Minsk and other Belarusian cities on Friday, after a 31-year-old anti-government protester died in hospital following what demonstrators said was a severe beating by security forces.

Witnesses said Roman Bondarenko was detained after scuffling with people in plain clothes who had come to a playground to remove red-and-white ribbons representing a months-long protest movement against President Alexander Lukashenko.