Belarusian wrestler Kiryl Hryshchanka has been stripped of the gold medal he claimed in the Greco-Roman 130 kilograms event at this year's European Games in Minsk for doping.

Belarus - described three years ago by the Wall Street Journal as the emerging "Silicon Valley” of Eastern Europe" - has been widely praised for living up to its billing as it hosted the 2nd European Games that concluded last month.

Two flagbearers in last night’s European Games Closing Ceremony have revealed details of their reaction to hearing about the honour being bestowed upon them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Belarus after the country successfully hosted the second edition of the European Games here. 

Germany’s State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior Stephan Mayer has claimed the European Games has helped improve the reputation of Belarus but warned improvements still need to be made over human rights.

The Closing Ceremony for the 2nd European Games here last night harked back to Belarus folk history - but also looked forward to the country’s burgeoning technological future.

The 2nd European Games have officially come to an end as the Flame of Peace was put out at the Closing Ceremony here tonight.

Russia, boosted on the final day of the European Games by more golds from the likes of all-round artistic gymnastics champion David Belyavskiy and track cycling women’s sprinter Anastasiia Voinova, finished with almost twice as many medals - and golds - than its nearest challenger - hosts Belarus.

Ukraine ended the concluding day of European Games karate action here with two out of six gold medals in kumite contests - but the performance of the final session came from an exciteable Italian, Luca Maresca, who won a dramatically fluctuating men's under-67 kilograms contest against Mario Hodzic of Montenegro.

Belarusian favourite Dzmitry Asanau earned gold in the men's 60 kilograms lightweight as the first of the 2019 European Games boxing medals were awarded here. 

Britain’s Olympic bronze medallists and Commonwealth champions Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis upset the odds today as they beat Denmark’s top seeds Anders Skaarp Rasmussen and Kim Astrup, the European champions, to the badminton men’s doubles European Games gold here today.

Spain won three gold medals on the opening day of the karate competition at the European Games here today, with both kata champions of Baku 2015 - Damián Quintero and Sandra Sánchez - retaining their titles, and Laura Palacio Gonzalez adding another title as she beat Meltem Hocaoglu of Turkey 4-1 to win the over-68 kilograms women’s kumite final.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are set to attend tomorrow's Closing Ceremony for the European Games here.